Today I got up at 6am and caught the 7.15 bus to Greymouth. I had a stopover in Richmond but that was easy. The route between Richmond and Greymouth is the most beautiful road I have ever been on. It's absolutely amazing. At some point it crossed my mind that I would rather sit on that bus for the next 3 days than get off it. I sat staring out of the windows at the scenery rolling by like a little child. First the yellowy rolling hills like the ones near Motueka ...

This morning my pickup came at 8.15 and a very cheery driver drove me and a few other hikers to Kaiteriteri beach, again past many orchards and vineyards and picturesque little houses surrounded by big rolling hills with deep green trees dotting the crests, that by some Dutch could be categorised small mountains but objectively are somewhere between the two. Mum had told me of this beautiful Kaiteriteri beach but when the bus pulled up I was really blown away by ...

Yesterday I packed up my stuff, played some piano (they had a piano there!), taught Martin a song to play on the piano as he insisted I must teach him one song before I left, and went to catch the bus to Motueka. I did sit in the sun in Picton for a while and noticed how beautiful the harbour actually is when it's not rainy and windy and cold. The area is so stunning. Anyway, I went off to Motueka. After a stop in Nelson the bus finally wound its way north toward...

So I checked out of the YHA in Wellington today and dragged my bags to the Te Papa museum. The Te Papa Museum is the most famous museum in New Zealand and is basically heaven for kids and adults who like to act like kids or who are interested in history and geography. I consider myself to be halfway between the first two. It is free so I dumped my bag at the storage section and wandered up to the first exhibit which was called Awesome Forces and was about the for...

Anyway, 6 hours later, at 8 am, I got off in Wellington. I was quite happy and awake so I went to the YHA, dropped off my big bag, got some breakfast and explored the harbour area of Wellington. To my honest great surprise I found myself really liking the city. I have heard many tales that it is boring and just a windy city but I actually really like it. The layout is nice, it's small but cosy and accessible and I just felt very calm and comfortable there. I walk...