friday the 23rd may - got up at stupid o'clock to get a bus to able tasman national park. we got a free breakfast before we left the hostle which was yummy and then we headed down on the bus. we got dropped off after an hour and a half and then headed to our transportation - a water taxi! they must have been having a laugh when they booked it as it was sitting out halfway into the tasman sea and they said we had to climb aboard! ha! anywya we managed to get on before heading off to our drop off point which was in torent bay. we then hiked our way down through the park along the coast but seen as half of it was blocked out my trees we had mainly a rainforest walk. we headed down to appletree bay to have our lunch which was nice and then continued on til we reached our destination to wait for our coach ride home. got in, showered (heaven!) and had tea and chocolate pudding (really really yummy!)

sat 24th

we left nelson and headed down towards greymouth and along the buller river and buller gorge (not the same one that we saw in cairns!). we drove through the Paparoa National park and went for a walk along the Truman Track where we had a walk along the coast and rainforest. we then hoped back on the coach and headed towards the Punakaiki pancake rocks (honestly im not making these names up!) and then on towards greymouth which was where we were spending the night - well it was pretty grey to be honest - not a lot there apart from a brewery and a gateway to the ocean. we checked into the best hostel ever - free chocolate, free muffins, hotwater bottles (defintily a must at the moment!) and even mints on our pillows! had tea and a few drinks with some of the guys and girls on our bus and then headed back to bed.

sunday 25th

early start (again!) and on the bus to Franz josef. we stopped in hokitika which was famous for jade (that green stone) but as we are now skint flints we didnt buy any. so continuing on we booked a heli hike as we didnt want to do a half day hike (barely see anything) or a full day (too cold!) we booked a helihike instead as we would get to go in a helicopter. by the way this was a heli hike to thge top of a glacier which was BLOODY FREEZING! this was absolutely awesome - the views were amazing, the sceenery stunning and everything was perfect! one of the girls on our hike fell and tore a ligament in her foot so she couldnt go on which sucked but we continued and had an amazing time. back down in a chopper and then off to the hostel to warm up, have tea (free soup) and watch films. we watched snatch and james bond casino royal which i have to admit to liking even thou i have practically always said i didnt like james bond i feel i have now been converted!

monday 26th

had a nice long lie in as we decided to stay an extra day at the glacier and have a good look around. went on the net and then headed back to the hostel to have lunch and chill out for a bit. when we got there jo, rhiann and louise had checked in so was nice to see them and have a catch up. watched hitch and then decided to go for a walk to Lake Wombat for something to do. came back after 3 hours then headed back to the hostel to watch a film and have tea. started to watch lord of the rings but gave up and went to bed!

tuesday 27th

got up early and headed out to the bus where we were going to be catching a bus to queenstown (the adventure capital of the world!) first off thou we headed to lake matheson which is also called the mirror lake as the build up of debris at the bottom of the lake enables a perfect reflection of the surroundings, in this case - gorgeous snow covered mountains! we then headed into forest region and into central Otago region. we visited lake Hawea to take some amazing photos and see some of the locals (sheep - we oddly enough got very excited about seeing some sheep!) then we headed to lake wanaka which was stunning. we chilled out here for a bit which gave me and lau the perfect excuse to play on the play area and swing on swings etc. then back on the bus and off to queenstown. i decided i'd do something reckless such as throwing myself off a bridge so signed up for a bungy. got very nervous on the way to the site and laura told me to put some hyped up music on my ipod - only to realise i was listening to JAMES MORRISON - ONE LAST CHANCE (appropriate dont you think!) so we arrived (very white and shaky at this point) got off the bus and watched a intro dvd about the history of bungy. that looked awesome so was a bit happier about it. then signed up and off we went! the guy told me to but my hands above my head as i was about to enter the water so instead i decided to go down like that the whole way just incase i forgot to do that! so i jumped off looking like a complete tool! the dvd is hilarious - if you want to see it i'll show u when i get back - just ask...

once i climbed back up i thjought it would be a good idea to call mum (she wasnt happy - she answered the phone with - 'you've thrown your self off something haven't you!?!!') another reason she wasnt happy was cos it was 5 in the morning at home and she later told me had only gone to bed at 1 (what were u doing up at that time mother dear??) and couldnt sleep again after i woke her up! SOOOO SORRY MUM xx

so we headed into queenstown and checked in. me laura, niamh and nicola (2 of the girls on our bus) headed into town for tea (at the famous FERGBURGER - yummy - huge big burgers) and then had a few drinks out and about before heading back to the hostel to bed.

wed 28th

up evern earlier than normal as we had signed up for milford sound - a day trip to a fijord land which was apparently stunning. well it was. it was gorgeous but the trip was a very long one. 4 hours on a coach with a few stops inbetween and then 1hr 45 on a boat in milford sound itself and then back on the coach for a 4 hour trip home. a very long day. got back went on the net for a bit then headed back to the hostel to go to bed but ended up watching blade 3 instead!

thursday 29th

had a nice long lie in. got up, had breaky and then headed into town for a walk around before heading back to the hostle for lunch as well as getting ready for the afternoons activity - HORSE RIDING!got a bus to the stables in Glenorchy which was at the other side of queenstown and then got on our ponies once we had arrived at the station. had a bit of a canter along the rivers and saw some of the sceenery from LOTRs as well as doing a few river crossings. was an awesome ride but a bit chilly at points. back on the bus and back to queenstown. after i broke the shower - took me from 5pm until 5.40pm to actually figure out the shower after breaking it! then soup, watched gladiator, did a load of washing and chilled. decided to go into town and get a coffee and have a wander otherwise we might have gone mad. found this awesome fudge shop that does all sorts of flavours. yummy! then we had a hot chocolate swiftly followed by a vodka and lemonade! caught up with shona and claire who we had temporairly lost in wanaka for a few days then we headed back to the hostel to bed.

today - friday 30th

got up (late!) and decided to go up the mountain to the gonodlas. the views were amazing (i think im using these words a lot - amazing, awesome and fantastic - if you can think of other words i could use instead i would really appreciate it!) and we had a go at something called the LUGE - basically little go karts that you fly down the side of a mountain on and then catch a chair lift back up and do it again! you dont go all the way from the top of the mountain all the way to the bottom - only about 800m decent but the speed is brilliant (also a word that i seem to use a lot) and then you do it all again! so then after 7 trips down the luge and a return trip down the gondola we headed down into town and to the internt and here i am!

so after that ramble i shall leave it there. hope your all well - see you all in a few weeks - cant believe how fast 9 months is going!

mwah xxxxxx