Apologies once again that I am so behind with this blog. I think that the fact that it has been a couple of weeks since I have updated is evidence of how great New Zealand is, and also partly how expensive internet access is!

I am currently in Franz Josef, which is a small town in the South Island, a base for activities on the massive glacier, which tomorrow I will be doing a full day hike of. I'm a bit nervous about this what with my terrible fitness levels, but apparently it's so brilliant that it's worth the 8 hours of ice hiking! I hope it will live up to other amazing activities I have done here in NZ, including black water rafting (essentially going through dark glowworm caves in a rubber ring) and skydiving over Lake Taupo, which is bigger than Singapore. The skydive would definitely count as a highlight of my whole two months of travelling so far; it felt like a real achievement for a massive wimp like me, and to enjoy it as well was a real bonus! It was hugely exhilerating and I was on a high for ages afterwards.

Throughout my trip across the North Island and the beginning of the South Island, I have seen some incredible landscapes - NZ probably has the best scenery I've ever seen in my life. All the volcanic activity also means that there are lots of natural hot springs, so despite the cold weather what with Winter arriving here in the Southern Hemisphere, my bikini has definitely had an airing. Rotorua was really awesome, with bubbling hot mud pools and erupting geysers!

Another fantastic part of my last couple of weeks was getting to see more long lost relatives - Gavin and Ann in Matata. They took me to see a recreated traditional Maori village where we were entertained with a brilliant show of singing and dancing, then fed to bursting with a yummy hangi, or feast of food cooked underground. It's interesting to see how Maori culture is really present in New Zealand, in a way that Aboriginal culture is not in Australia.

I'm quickly running out of internet time, so do excuse the rather rushed and disorderly entry. I hope everyone at home is keeping well and I will be able to see you all in exactly three months' time!