Arriving late afternoon in Nelson I checked into my hostel for the first night, it was awesome. Almost like a sharehouse sleeping only 13. Coincidently I ran into a mate from Switzerland who I met in a backpackers in Queenstown, off all the backpackers and towns in NZ. It was good to catch up with him. Now they call this a city, hmmm . . . . I don't think so. It doesn't classify itself as a city under my checklist more so a beachside town. Just shops and cafes t...

Murchison it was then, well there really wasn't much here Murchison it was then, well there really wasn't much here. I chucked my gear at hostel and ran to the information centre before they closed and booked a white water rafting tour. That night I spent having a few beers and solving 3D puzzles with an Englishman and a Irishman. There was some pretty interesting conversations and some good times all round. The Irishman though reminded me (this is going to soun...

Punakaiki, now much here eh Punakaiki, now much here eh? The first day I checked in to my hostel with an awesome beachfront, but not that you would want to swim at this rough beach. Massive rips, big rocks and thrashing waves! Anyway it was off to see Pancake rocks, as this is kind of the only attraction here. They were bigger than I thought, I saw the blowhole at its best during high tide. Then it was off back to the hostel where I booked a horse trek for next ...

Oh Hokitika (pronounced like 'hokey' from the hokey pokey i learnt from many new zealanders) I fell in love with this seaside town as soon as i arrived at the hostel where Chris and Maire dropped me off. This nice hostel just outta town was like a share house, very homely and right on the beach! I dropped of my gear then went for a walk into town along the beach, this beach once i describe it to you will probably think it ugly (which it kinda was) but i loved it...

So after a long bus drive up, mostly sleeping (just like when i go to uni on the train, cept i dont embaress myself by waking up as my head tilts to one side. Usually i fit in on the bus cos everyone is sleeping and theres a head rest to catch your head). So the afternoon was pretty laid back, didnt do much at all just had a few beers and laid back ready for ice climbing on NYE tomorrow! SO i got up realy early made my lunch for the day, well a poor excuse for a...