Coming into land in Queenstown was spectacular. As the plane descended through mountains along a vivid blue lake, we knew we would be in for a visual treat on the South Island of New Zealand! On arrival we once again had to go through some pretty stringent immigration checks to ensure no food or disease was being brought into the country, but after assuring one of the officers that we hadn't been involved in any drug smuggling back in Indonesia, and Sophie offering to take a bag of sweets off a northern guy who was worried he would get stopped, we made it in successfully.

Hopping on an overpriced bus to the centre of Queenstown and marvelling at the small size of such a well known city, and the lack of cars and people everywhere, we checked into the Pinewood Lodge Hostel, where we hoped we wouldn't be subjected to the torments of our last accommodation! Set amongst giant pine trees and surrounded by mountains, provided a picturesque location, blighted only slightly by the sudden extremely cold temperature! Standing there in our shorts and flip flops in what was supposed to be the height of summer, and having been only boiling hot for the last four months, we realised we may not have packed the right clothing for this period of travel! Fortunately our hostel choice this time was more successful, and that evening we got far too excited about being able to peacefully cook jacket potatoes, sausages, beans and cheese for dinner....a definite home comfort we had been missing.

With our aim in New Zealand being to spend two months travelling around via a bought campervan, the next day we got on the case of looking for any advertisements on hostel boards, the local paper, and any with for sale signs in parked along various roads. Unfortunately this wasn't going to prove as easy as first imagined to get a good quality van for a reasonable price, and the search would continue for almost two weeks before we found one!

The morning of 3rd February, Sophie's 26th birthday, was spent skyping her parents and younger sister and even opening birthday cards that had been sent out to her, and an E-card from her nan! That afternoon we treated ourselves to a tasty birthday lunch at a harbour front restaurant called 'Ivy and Lola's' overlooking the vast blue glacial lake that Queenstown was built around. That evening we caught up with Sophie's friend Anna with whom she had gone travelling last time, and who had been working and living in Australia and New Zealand for the past couple of years. After a lot of reminiscing about old adventures and updating each other on some new stories over more than a few drinks, we headed out to a bar in town for a short while before hunger took over! At this point we headed to a restaurant in Queenstown that has become renowned throughout New Zealand, 'Fergburger'...Ok restaurant is a bit far fetched, it's more a gourmet burger takeaway hatch, with a wide array of burger combinations to choose from...they didn't disappoint!

The next morning called for a fry up (although minus beans and sausages left Trevor a little disappointed), and more hungover van searching. The following day we realised we would soon die of hypothermia in this random cold summer spell Queenstown was having if we didn't get some more appropriate clothing. Cue Anna suggesting we hitch hike to a nearby shopping area with affordable shops. With the idea of hitch hiking being alien to the both of us, Anna soon convinced us that it was the done thing in NZ with people readily picking others up, and with many travellers doing only that to travel around the whole country! So there we were, thumbs stretched out on the side of the road for ten minutes, when a man offered to take us the 15 minute journey in his campervan! Marvelling that it had actually worked, we depressingly bought some layers and shoes, and hitched a ride back!

The 6th February, it turns out, is not only Sophie's younger sisters' birthday, but also that of Bob Marley, and Waitangi Day, a NZ public holiday that celebrates Maori independence and rights from the British. Any excuse to celebrate, after watching a disappointing 'running of the sheep' display down the high street, in which the giant sheep were more pushed along begrudgingly than running, we made our way with Anna to the Queenstown Gardens to raise a few drinks to Bob! Followed by an evening in the pub and another Fergburger, we headed back to Anna's hostel area she shares with 15 other people in dorm rooms. We had been unable to find a single affordable bed in the whole of Queenstown for that evening and instead beaded down on Anna's sofa and then someone's bed they gave up for us! The following night we were again unable to find accommodation in the city, so risked it and stayed on a sofa in a much quieter communal lounge area of the hostel. With fear of being caught in the night and people returning from evenings out we had a pretty sleepless night, and after using the hostel facilities for free the next morning we decided it was in our best interests to get out of Queenstown before it consumed us for the next two months!