Greetings!

We've been really slack with our blog, so I don't think this'll be too good because it feels like ages ago!

We're now in Byron Bay, OZ but I'm just gonna write about South Island of New Zealand. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin!

Ok...We had an early start from Wellington to get the 3 hr ferry across to Picton (The South Island). Its the most dangerous ferry crossing in the world, but for us it was a calm day.

First stop was Nelson. Luckily for us we made a great group of girls who we stayed with for most of the South Island (Lisa & Emma from Ireland, Kiki from Holland, Katie from posh England and Lucy from Leicester)! We did a full days hike in Abel Tasman national park. That was stunning, tiring and hot! But the views were stunning. We were staying in a 10 bed dorm, but I had this wierd little area in the attic so it was like my own room, it was so cool!

Hang on, I'm just having to look through our pics to see what we did next!

OK! Next we went to Greymouth, via the pancake rocks (see picture)! Gremouth is an industrial town so what else to do but visit the local Monteith's brewery. The tour itself was a little dull but The sampling after was fun, and I poured my first pint (Ruth pulled her 1000th)! Included in our 25 dollar tour was a BBQ at the local pub, spot on! And we stayed and had a dance there later. That evening we stayed in a hostel that used to be a monastry, creepy. All the rooms were decorated with an animal theme. We had the bear room and it felt a bit like a nursey - very strange!

Next stop - Franz Josef where the glaciars are, including Fox Glaciar of the famous Fox's Glaciar Mints! On the day of arrival it was my 21st Birthday (if only). To celebrate me and Ruth went quad biking. They were so fast and we were going through rivers, very cool! That evening a big group of us went out for tea and then lots of drinks after including our creepy bus driver! Everyone sang Happy Birthday and got my name right, which was a miracle seeing as I didn't know half of them!

The next day we had a lovely lie in and then went for a walk to the base of the glaciar (it was rubbish compared to the one in Patagonia)! We were really naughty like all the other ramblers and walked past the sign to the very bottom of the glaciar. While we were taking pics a boulder dislodged, just missing Ruth. In Franz Josef there were loads of sandflies and my ankles and back got eaten, Ruth was fine and yet it was the other way round in S America.

Next stop was Queenstown, where we spent 3 nights. Its really small and is used as a base for all the extreme sports in the area. The lake by it is so nice. While we were there, I went up the gondola with Emma and Lisa and we went on the luge at the top 7 times, was such a laugh. In the meantime Ruth had a girly day, clothes shopping and got a sexy new hair cut!

We spent a night in Duneadon, but I took no pictures so I don't know when! But thats a bit of a dump, and its Scottish (I'm not saying thats the reason why)! We were going to do the Cadbury's chocolate factory there but had a nap instead!

Onwards to Lake Takapo with a great view of Mount Cook. The 6 of us girls decided it would be an amazing idea to swim in the water (It's a glacial lake, therefore unbearably cold). Needless to say we lasted 5 seconds! We rounded the evening off with drinks and an amazing view of the moon over the lake.

After a night in Christchurch (we went to see Dead Girl at the cinema with Kiki), leaving our friends, me and Ruth rented a car for 3 days. Firstly we drove to Akaroa for 1 night to see Katie and Matt (our Scottish travel buddies). They were working there for a couple of weeks on this really nice chalet complex where people get married. We had some beers and went for a walk to the field where there is a deer, donkey and horse. They were all so tame. We then had a BBQ and a few more beers. Me and Ruth then had to walk back to town, it took about 40 minutes down a really steep dirt track in the pitch black, surrounded by forest. We were so scared, holding hands trying not to run and hold a normal conversation, haha!

Also in Akaroa our hostel had a really nice piano. I haven't played in 3 months and its the thing I miss most about home, so it was soooo good to play!

Anyway...we awoke early the next morning and Ruth theived 2 copied CDs for the car. We headed back to Christchurch (it was an hr away), picked up Kiki and headed north for Kiakora where we met Katie Emma and Lisa. We had a dip in the pool, a few drinks, found a guitar and had a sing song that night for Lisa's birthday. Then we were up at 4.30AM after 2 hrs sleep to go swimming with dusky dolphins. That was incredible. We watched the sunrise from a boat on very rough sea, all decked out in full wetsuits, snorkels and flippers! Then we got in the water and were surrounded by thundreds if dolphins. We were all making crazy noises to attract them and when they come up they swim round you in a circle to see if you can keep up and make eye contact. Then when you can't they go! But it was ace.

Me and Ruth headed back to Christchurch (3 1/2 hrs drive). I did all the driving because Ruth lost her license so was so tired. Ruth took me for a meal that night to say thanks for the driving, it was lovely, but we had a little row (I think it was due to lack of sleep)!

That evening we said goodbye to the last of our friends (Paul & Lucy from Llangollen), and mad e anew friend (Huggy Helen from Scotland)!

That brings us to Friday, and our flight to Melbourne. I was quite glad to leave New Zealand, its beautiful but I like more of a different culture, and was still in mourning for S. America. Ruth loved it though. Australia here we come!