NEW ZEALAND - SOUTH ISLAND

Hey again, for New Zealand i'm gonna write as I go otherwise I forget things, plus it saves me sitting for ages thinking of what to write.

CHRISTCHURCH

This is out first hostel experience and wow what a wake-up call it has been. After our first week in Sydney in a nice hotel all the things we could possibly, then we check in to 'Point Break' in New Brighton...

Our first night I don't think we really knew what to expect. New Brighton is a 20 min bus trip away from Christchurch. First night we thought we'd hope on the bus and see what was going on in the center, not a lot was the answer!!! The bars where all empty the street where empty and everything shut by 9 or 10 o'clock. So we were in bed by 10:30 and that was day one.

Day Two got better the sun was out and we started to find things to do in and around the area. We were also getting to grips with hostel life. Instead of eating out we went the to local 'Woolworths' to get our food shopping and cook to save some money. Day Three we managed to hire a car which gave us a little more freedom as you have to drive to a lot of things. We were going to hire a campa but it was working out far to expensive, however we opt'd for a car because transport is not the best and pretty expensive. Tomorrow where heading out for 2 hr drive to Hanmer Spring for a day on the quads and then a chillaxing in a thermal spa. Then we'll be ready for the epic drive arrive round... Read on! If you have not fallen asleep :-)

HANMER SPRINGS

Two hours outside of Christchurch, this is our first drive around NZ. Roads are very long and bendy now I know why they take ages to get from place to place. Up a mountain and then down the other side then up again. Went Quad biking in Hanmer which was wicked. Had two hours on the bikes, round a course which included lots of mud, stones and a river. Couldn't take a camera so no pictures of this, but we did do it, honest...! After the Quads as this traveling business is stressful we had to go for a dip in the natural spa/springs. Well it would be rude not to since we where here.

ARTHURS PASS/GRAYMOUTH

By this point I've drove for hours and god knows how many mile or kilometers as it is here. The driving isn't as bad as I thought it only takes hours from place to place because of the roads, there all 'A' Roads and you can only get up speed in parts. We stopped for a little while in Arthur's Pass really isn't much there. It's a town built up along State Highway 6, and not really all that built up there. The houses are made out of corrugated metal! Very nice nice through, walked up to a place call the Devils Punch Bowl which is a good hours walk into the forest. Had a bit to eat and then hit the road again on wards to Greymouth. Two and half hours scenic drive we arrived in a tiny town, Greymouth, it was Sunday and not a soul in sight. Was expecting a tumble weed to blow pass. Here we stayed in a brightly coloured hostel called Dukes, basic but ok. Think I'm getting used to the dorm and hostel life now. Only stayed the night here so not much to say about the place. New Zealand is very much reminding me of the UK the weather is similar, rain as I write this, countryside like ours etc. We're now in Franz Joseph again is a small town built up along the State Highway. Doing the Glacier climb tomorrow so will write more then...

FRANZ JOSEPH / FOX GLACIER

Well the glacier was a wash out!!! Cant believe we paid $300ish for a day that I don't wish to repeat. It was very cold and rained for the whole entire 8 hours of the the walk. It was so wet only managed to take about 5 pictures and actually enjoy the first couple of hours. After this point we were soaked to the bone and know we still had Five or so hours left to climb this great big ice cube. The only part I actually find amusing is watching to group stop and eat our lunch. Soaking wet ham sandwiches on top of glacier in the howling wind and rain, that bit puts a like smile on my face purely because it was so surreal and will never happen again. Saying that the experience was good and walking up and down the ice with crampons. Only once did I go flying onto all fours. Unlike the woman that was in front of me, she was in front one minute and down a hole the next. Not funny at the time, but know I look back I smile. Only if it wasn't raining the whole day would have been great, the bits of the glaciers that we manage to stop long enough to appreciate where amazing. Anyway I'm not going to bore you by going on about THE RAIN, WIND AND 8 HOUR HIKE, lol. Next Stop will be....

WANAKA

The idea to stop here was to spend the day biking in the hills and round the lakes however when we saw the price of the bikes for the day we decided to walk instead. $70 for the day for Two bikes seriously that is more than we paid for the car per day. Enjoyed Wanaka a little sleepy town on the lakes really chilled out and a cute hostel. Hostel was like a country cottage with an English garden all very cute. We did get a rock thrown at the car bonnet here not impressed. Good job we took out "Stress Free Insurance" on the car. From here we drove up the hills and down again all the way to...

QUEENSTOWN

Booked Four nights here because everyone else was raving about the place. Also we had a private room WITH bathroom WOW what a luxury. Queenstown was a lovely little town, the busiest place we have been to so far. If you had money to spend then there was loads to do if not then you were a little restricted but we made the best of it. Instead of paying $50 to go up the hill in a cable car we opted to walk and climb. Hour later and aching leg we made it and it was worth the pain just for the views were amazing. There doesn't seem to be a place in NZ without amazing views. Queenstown was a pretty active place, biking, power boats etc. Didn't get to experience the night life due to the lack of money but we did manage to have a few drinks in a bar because it was 241. Whilst in Queenstown we ventured out 4 hours to Milford Sounds for a boat trip out on the sound. This again was a drive full of views. You can be driving here for hours and not realize it because it isn't boring in the slightest. Again it was raining here but it's supposed to be one of the wet places on the planet. If it wasn't raining we would not have got all the waterfalls down the side of the mountains. There is only two permanent waterfalls on the sound the rest come and go with rain. The drive home was pretty hairy as it had rained all day, it was now also night time driving was slow. A lot of the roads had rivers flowing across them so steady as she goes. We spent a few more day exploring Queenstown and then it was time for the epic 8 hour drive back to Christchurch ready for our departure to Cairns. I've told you about Christchurch so I'll speak to you in Cairns. Bye from NZ...