Hey everyone!

Arrived here in Rarotonga the night before last, around 1.30am our time, where we went straight to the other side of the island (20km away!) to stay at a place called Maiana Beach house, a small budget bungalow with really nice owners away from town and any where else! Tomorrow, we are heading closer to the town to a place called Rarotonga Backpackers Hillside, where there's a poool and a few more backpackers/travellers... we hope!

New Zealand was unbelievable! We tried to plan it from home so that we caught the snow and rugby, and we were lucky enough to see both which was amazing! The temperature never reached 10'c the whole time we were there, and after africa for 2 months and S.E.A for another 1, we found it freezing! Especially in a campervan!

We started from Christchurch in the north of the south island, where we landed and stayed at an old converted jailhouse for the night, settled down and found our hoodies and jeans, and booked our campervan. Em managed to get the one we were after for a fraction of the price, and we picked up a spray painted toyota hiace the very next day! It was a big automatic van with 2 sofas and a table in the back, which converted to a bed for nights. Really comfy just veryu cold when you decided to park on the side of the motorway later that night! Saved money but we didnt do it again for a fair few days!

We drove down to the tip of the island and looked around the scenery, which was honestly the nicest I've ever seen! All the trees were red and lakes frozen, and we saw wild seals on the coast during our 3rd night! After this we continued north to see Queenstown and the mountains we were planning on skiing down, where Coronet Peak had opened just 2 days before we arrived :)

We stayed in a really good campsite with power for our portable heater and lamp, and showers, which were awesome. Missed them. After staying here we set off once again, to what I think is the 2nd biggest town on the south island, Dunedin. We opted to stay just out of town, to avoid the crowds and lack of campsites, and stayed by a lake in an amazing place called Waihoa - a 30 minute drive from DSunedin. We met a scottish couple called George and Davina, who must have been hitting their 80's but were a right laugh and made us feel welcome at their local bar, introducing us to the locals(some of whom werre also scottish) and speights (local drink!) and we had a really good night before heading to Dunedin the next morning. Not sure why this decided to go all italic on me but I guess it asdds interest??!!

So... The next day we found dunedin, and set up camp outside Carisbrook stadium, ready for the International Iveco Series match between AllBlacks and France. :) France turned up just as we did, and we were lucky enough to see the local school boys team perfoprm a haka to them as they got off the coach, something I'll never forget. Along with seeing Chabal in person and how massive he actually is! We kicked around and waited for the All Blacks to turn up - which they did :) and a few even stopped to watch the haka - theyre all absolute giants, I'm sure George would have loved it!
fRANCE WON... :( 27-22 the final score, but it was an incredible experience and we both loved every minute of it :) especially standing 2 feet away from Mills Muliaina at the end hoping he'd offer to sign our progrtammes or pose for a photo.. Do'nt think I'd be in the mood either after losingf to frabce though... ha
After the game we hgit the road straight away and back to QQueenstown - again through amazing scenery. I can't say how awesome it was youy could drive for hours and not pull over - everything there is stunning! We arrived again, picked up skiis and passes and got an early night ready for skiing the next day.
Up at 6am and out of the campsite by 7.30am - the slopes didnt even open until 9am but we (maybe I...) couldnt wait/miss it! The skiing was awesome - we stayed on coronet peak the whole time, learning the slopes the 1st day and then progressing to off piste the whole day by day 3! It was unbelievably cold in a hoody but soo good to be there! Videos and pictures to come soon!
The last night here we spent making gifts and entering a pool competition, where a local originally from Sheffield beat Emma in round 1 and went on to win foir the 3rd week in a row, and I lost to 2 locals in the first 2 rounds! Good night!
After Queenstown we headed across to Rouite 1 and back up to Christchurch again, stopping in a nice village called Fairlie for the nigght and then decided to spend the last night in our campervan! We dropped it off at lunch time the next day before getting a taxi to Christchurch Internatioinal :( too much to do and see in too little time! Definitely going back as soon as I can!
Were here now in Rarotoinga like i said, but just settling in and finding things to do and places to see, and stay, for now, I'm sure we'll update you before Mexico! That's come scarily quickly... :s
Tom x