Up early, with high expectations and forever hopeful that we would actually get a camper van. We did not actually believe that we would be picking up a van and so had decided not to plan where to drive to as this may have been a jinx on the van ever materiallising. Anyhow, the bus to the airport took about an hour and from there we were collected by the nice lady from Freedom Campervans. And there it was, our not so shiny, not too new, but very reasonalbe ...

Nicole arrived from England yesterday, after a two day journey and we went out for a drink last night before she finally gave in to exhaustion. Nic is best mates with Natalia, who I have been friends with since infant school!! Today we were up reasonably early, with the intention of getting ourselves organised and deciding where and how to travel the country. We asked at the travel centre at the YHA, only to be told that it is high season and there is no...

Hi again from Auckland, Not much to report as I've been trying to do admin type stuff the last few days - like changing my flights and doing research on where and what to do next. Auckland is a really nice city, but it's extremely hilly as it is covered in volcanic hills (don't worry, they are extinct mum). The city has attracted a lot of Asian immigrants, giving the city a very cosmopolitan feel - it also means that there are lots of great, cheap rest...

Kia Ora (Maori for hello) everyone, I haven't quite fallen off the edge of the world yet, but it feels like it! I think I'm about as far away from home as I can get, as well as being 13 hours ahead of GMT now. I arrived in Auckland on Saturday evening and checked in to my hostel, which is new and very well equiped. I haven't done much yet, but have located Starbucks - priorities! Burger King has also reverted back to Burger King from Hungry Jacks, whi...

I was up early yesterday as I had to post a big parcel back to the UK and this was my last chance to do it. Then it was off to do the bridge climb!!!!!!!!!!!! I had managed to persuade Richard to do it with me and on the way there I got the impression that he wasn't too good with heights - too late now. The Harbour Bridge Climb has been running since 1998 and it was very organised and conveyor belt like. A group of up to 12 left every 20 minutes and was h...