This morning we were still in Taupo. We had to wait until 2.15pm to catch the bus, so we wrote a list of things we had to do today. It was quite a long list! it went a little like this:

• Post Kristy's clothes home
• Buy post cards
• Post post cards
• Kristy to buy shoes
• Find missing singlet
• Vegemite
• Buy Italian Hot Chocolate

We actually managed to do everything on that list! Kristy got her shoes, which are pretty cool, but I wouldn't be able to pull that look off! Then we went and posted a heap of stuff we will never use on this trip home. I wonder why we pack things we never use at home, to take overseas? Do we suddenly think it will become useful? Anyway, after we posted that stuff home, our bags got so much easier to pack and close! It was quite exciting to us! While we were at the post office, I managed to kill two birds with one stone and buy post cards & send them! I am quite the smart cookie.

After that we just walked around, the day wasn't too bad, it was overcast mostly and occasionally lightly raining, like a toddler trying to get attention by crying, and found a 'Pak n' Save', which I had only heard of in America. We went in to get the Vegemite (we left other one in Auckland with good old Andrew) and was amazed at how cheap it was! We decided to stock up on non-perishables, which ended up being almost a full shop and costed around $80! So we needed to buy another bag to transport the stuff in! But we have so much food now, I doubt we will need more for a while!

Across the road from 'Pak n' Save' was a Salvo's shop. Since we had nothing better to do we went in, and they had the shop very neatly laid out. I headed for the sweater section, and got a few long sleeved knitted sweaters for a really good price. They will keep me toasty in the South Island! Then it was back to the hostel to put everything away, as it was getting really heavy. Because we had just spent a bit of money, we decided to have noodles and toast for lunch instead of buying something. That's a little money saving tip there

We still had over two hours until the bus arrived, so we headed down to the cafe that advertised Italian hot chocolate. If you don't know what that is, it's REAL chocolate that's been melted with milk added to form a drink. Kristy & I have been looking for a place that sells it for AGES! We went in and ordered, and found out they have different flavours as well. I opted for the original though. It was $4.80 for a 'large' size, which was basically a coffee shot size. I soon found out why that was the largest! It was so horribly rich and filling! I had trouble finishing it! But it was amazing, and would recommend it to anyone!

After we sat around in the cafe for what seemed like ages, we realised we still had an hour to wait. We went back to the hostel and sat in the lounge reading books and getting extremely bored!

Finally, it was time to go! The bus rocked up on time, and we had our first female driver who seemed kinda funky. The bus was very full, so we had to squish up together! We got going, and had to go up through the mountains, which was an extremely windy road. When we got up to the top, I saw the most amazing thing!

IT WAS STARTING TO SNOW!!!

I have NEVER seen snow before, and this got me super dooper excited! I was fascinated, and as we got higher, it got thicker! I looked at the front of the bus, and on the windshield, you could make out the snowflakes! It was a shame the wipers got rid of them so quick, but I guess I'd rather just look at the snow, and not crash into it. The rivers were frozen, and snow was soon covering them, and it looked beautiful. The windows on the bus got very cold very quick!

So that was the highlight of my day, we drove out of the snow and down the mountains and continued our 6 and a half hour bus ride. We arrived in Wellington around 8.45pm, and the temperature had dropped dramatically since Taupo!

We had to walk a fair distance to the hostel, and with our newly acquired groceries, it was getting difficult to walk with everything. What we noticed about Wellington, even on a Wednesday night, was how busy it was! There were people everywhere! And all dressed up lovely! The atmosphere was amazing, and we instantly loved the place! I don't know why everyone says it's boring!

We checked in, and requested the room Emily was in, as she was already here and leaving on the Ferry on Friday as well as us and Ajah, who will arrive tomorrow.

We had a quiet night, we were very tired, and vowed to get up early to explore this fabulous city and make the most of our one day here!