Hi Everyone Today is our 4th day in New Zealand, we arrived in Auckland on the 20th ( we didn't have the 19th- it was snatched from us on our flight over!). I was in 2 minds about coming to New Zealand because i absolutely loved our 2 months in South America and there is still so much i want to do there and so many other places to travel round, but i was also looking forward to being back in a country where i could speak to people without lots of pointing and actions and also very excited about all the activities we're planning on doing here!! Every person we come across has been so unbelievably friendly, England has a lot to work on, they are all really chatty and smiley lovely people! Auckland is a lot smaller than what i was expecting, and its the biggest city in New Zealand, so we both quickly began to register just how small NZ is- 5million total popn and 1.4 living in Auckland! We arrived early for our hostal- so sadly our room wasn't ready and the guy had to put us somewhere else- we were put into 'the sanctuary' which is the ultimate pampering dorm, we were given fluffy white towels and aveda hair products on arrival- and there are hair driers in the bathrooms- you have to understand we have been in South America for 2 months, where its a luxury if the taps even work! So we have been in heaven for the last few days! We have booked ourselves onto the Kiwi Experience (which we're praying isn't an 18-30's style trip) basically its a pass which means we can hop on and off a bus which will take us all over the North and South island for only 255quid. So we have been quite relaxed about touristy things as we have at least the next 23 days all sorted with loads of activities and travelling! We did take a trip to the Sky Tower which is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere and gave us amazing views over Auckland, we took a picture stood on a glass floor window so you can see how high we were. We also went to the Auckland museum where they have this Maori exhibition and we watched a Maori dance performance which was brilliant- they ended it with the Hacker which the All Blacks NZ rugby team do! ( see pics). We were also told to head to the aquarium which is meant to be amazing and have this antartic experience and moving conveyor belt through an underwater tunnel. Unfortunately they sprung a leak and had to shut the tunnel- so apart from the reconstruction of Scotts hut ( which was actually really interesting) we got to see a few penguins hanging out and a tank of sting rays- not overly exciting! Tomorrow we get picked up at 7.30am by our bus and we're heading north to our first stop travelling along the 90mile beach and hoping to do some sandboarding!! Very exciting!! We have been eating so much thai food since we arrived- there is a huge thai, korean and chinese popn here so lots of yummy restaurants and we've also been going to our hostal bar a fair bit and getting the vodka well and truly flowing which has been good fun! Lots of love to everyone, hope you are enjoying your summer!! Its freezing here and apparantly the further along we travel the colder it gets- ski wear is suggested! AAh be in touch again soon tasha xx