Written 15th October 2011

Hello!

This is my last blog from New Zealand… Awww…

Since I left Queenstown I haven't really been doing that much as to be honest I have had man flu, been shattered and have been to some pretty boring places!

When I left Queenstown got the bus to Dunedin, both the journey and the city failed to even make a photo album! While in Dunedin I had a walk around the shops and then went to the cinema. Jonny English Reborn was a highlight. However… I did walk up the worlds steepest street and get a certificate!

After Dunedin we headed to Tekapo. Luckily when I was on the freezing cold bus in the morning another girl I knew called Regula got on. We met in Queenstown watching the rugby so I had another friend J We had a good laugh on the bus along with some other people and it was a pretty good day. I missed the girls and people on the old bus though! On the way to Tekapo we stopped at Meoaki Boulders, a bunch of naturally round boulders on the beach. They were pretty cool and I enjoyed mastering a handstand on the top of one and jumping off the others! I also complete a plank and got the perfect mini me picture using some camera trickery!

After the boulders we travelled along the side of some pretty amazing coloured lakes and past a number of dams. When we arrived in Tekapo we visited a small church which was beautiful! Right by the edge of the lake and perfect for a wedding, unfortunately … is in England!

We then spent a few hours in the hostel before having tea! Me and two other girls had pasta and then had a sing song around the piano J In the evening we went to the Lake Tekapo Observatory. At $100 it was a very expensive trip to just have a few star patterns pointed out to us and a look trough some telescopes! The images through the telescopes however were fantastic though and the stars looked amazing! We saw Jupiter and the moon like I have never seen before! Its just a shame the photo's I took with my own camera cost about $20 each, I did drink about $15 worth of 'free' hot chocolate though!

The morning after I made my final journey on the Magic Bus L Here is a little part about the bus… I have loved the Magic Bus from start to finish! I have met some great people on the bus, the boys on North Island and the girls on South Island! We have all seen some pretty cool places and thanks to the drivers, especially Nick, I have had an ace time in New Zealand! The Magic Bus has taken me to all the places I wanted to see in NZ and also taken me to lots more! Go the Magic Bus!

When I got to Christchurch I checked in at the Jailhouse Hostel! It is actually an old converted jail! I am in cell 30 with 10 other inmates! I decided to go for a walk around the city centre red zone. Unfortunately as all will know Christchurch is no longer as it was before February, the city centre is totally cut off and the whole city is like a ghost town. Walking around the fences that cut of the centre was surreal, buildings are empty, wrecked and work men are pulling them down. It's totally devastated the city centre! However, just as I was taking pictures and wondering around I heard footsteps behind me! I turned around to find Terry, from North Island, following me! He said he had seen a white pom-pom bobbing down the street and thought that I had to be me! What a small world! It was good to catch up and together we visited the museum and had a walk around the park. Last night I caught up on my blog and pictures before getting an early night, an actual early night ;-)

Today I have been to Akaroa but yet again the weather has been pretty poor. Akaroa is a French settlement on the coast near Christchurch. When I got there I had a walk along the front, cheered some cycleists who were finished a race there, went to the very good museum and treated myself to a pub lunch! I then had a wonder around the shops for about 2 hours before having a pot of tea for one and returning to Christchurch. Tonight I am going to find a pub to watch the rugby semi final! Come on WALES!

So… Lets sign off from New Zealand.

I have had a great time in New Zealand. The country is beautiful, stunning, amazing and has some great things to do. I have done all the activities I wanted to do and have loved the vibe created by the World Cup! My decision to do the Magic Bus was a great one, the people that I met on the bus were great and again the drivers were awesome! I think my best places were Franz Josef, Wanaka and Queenstown but all were fantastic. It has nearly done me in travelling around here but now its time to head back up north. I hope to return to NZ one day maybe with my kids to do all the fun things again!!

Tomorrow I make my monster flight to Niagara Falls travelling on 4 planes over god knows how many hours! I fly from Christchurch to Auckland, Auckland to LA, LA to Chicago, Chicago to Buffalo! In Buffalo I will be picked up by Mum and Dad and cannot wait! I'm really looking forward to some nice hotels, great food and having a cuddle J Oh ye… maybe I will also eventually find a bath to use my Lush Bath Bomb that Crew 42 bought me for my 21st birthday that I have carried around the world! I am yet to find a bath!

So from New Zealand, a place I love, Goodbye!

Tom x