Hello!

Well it's been nearly a week since I wrote, and we've spent this time in Queenstown. It's been quite relaxed - nice to spend more than 2 nights in one place for the first time of the trip! This part has felt a lot like a girly holiday (except without the wardrobe).

On our first day here a group of us from our bus took the gondola up Bob's peak (we chickened out of the "hour's uphill slog") and went luging at the top. For those who don't know, luging basically involves sitting in a kind of tray with wheels and zooming down a downhill track, then getting a chairlift back up and starting again! It was great fun, and the views up there were pretty good too.

On Monday we went on a day trip to Milford Sound. It was a long coach ride, then a couple of hours boat trip with a buffet lunch (always a bonus!). We were a bit worried when we set off that the weather would spoil it, as it was grey and wet, but during our boat trip the sun came out and it was lovely - the scenery was stunning and on a scale that it's just hard to get your head around. We didn't see any dolphins, but hey you can't have everything.

The weather has been pretty good, so we've spent a bit of time here relaxing by the lake. We've had some great nights out too, all following more or less the same pattern - drinking in the kitchen, then in the hostel bar (Altitude bar) then on to World Bar for a boogie! They do drinks in teapots there which you pour into shot glasses - endless amusement!! Did a bit of shopping today which felt really good - it's amazing how boring the same clothes can get (and it's only been 3 weeks, how am I going to cope?!). Tomorrow we move on to Christchurch - our last stop in New Zealand. :-( Already I don't want to leave but I'll be in Australia in less than a week, which is pretty exciting!

Hope you enjoy the photos! Lots of love,

Elle xxx