Hello from New Zealand!

Well I made it here, it feels a bit surreal to be on the other side of the world to home, I couldn't really get much further. The weather is a bit grim - rain non-stop on Monday and Tuesday - a bit of a shock coming from Fiji! But apparently summer arrives very quickly at the start of November so I'm looking forward to that. I have a week booked at a backpackers in a nice suburb of Auckland called Ponsonby, it has plenty of trendy shops, cafes and boutiques as well as a few backpacker hotspots. It is about a 20 minute walk into the centre of Auckland, where the Skytower is. I haven't been up it yet (it is the highest spot in New Zealand although isn't much coming from the States!). I have made a few plans to do a bit of sight-seeing over the next few days, hopefully getting out to one of the Hauraki Gulf Islands.

I have started cooking at the backpackers which is cool, I made it up a near vertical hill with my shopping bags, nearly taking out a cyclist as a few potatoes went rolling away (Auckland is hilly!). It's nice to be able to cook vegetables and eat Weetabix, except the NZ version is called 'Weet Bix', and proper Weetabix costs 7.5 pounds from the 'UK section'! - now way! I will have to get some posted instead. I have rather been converted into a coffee drinker after being in the States, but have found some teabags that look similar to PG Tips so I'm happy.

I have booked a train to Wellington next Monday morning. It is a long ride - 12 hours - leaving at 7:25am and arriving at 7:25pm! But it is meant to be one of the most scenic rides in the world, taking in most of the North Island, plus I am a bit fed up of flying. It should be an experience I guess, I will go picnic shopping on Sunday. I am planning on staying in Wellington for just a couple of nights and then taking a ferry and bus over to a place called Nelson on the South Island - I've read it's a nice place so will look for work there, and if I don't find any I will head back to Wellington.

I'll update more on the sights in Auckland at the weekend once I have done a bit of sight-seeing. Auckland isn't really the most scenic city and I get the feeling that most people don't linger here long - but I will try and find some exciting things to tell you all about!

Grace xx