From Franz josef, we moved on to a little place called Wanaka - Surrounded by amazing lakes, and freezing cold, this was a nice overnight stop. We stayed in a small hotel in dorms, and watched movies till quite late. In the morning we went to a place called Puzzle World. A place full of mazes and rooms with optical illusions and all sorts. Fun morning solving all the puzzles there and we moved on to Queenstown!!!

Queenstown is amazing - feels like a small ski resort rather than a city... the only difference is the lack of snow on the streets. On our first day here I had to go buy some warm clothes as it was absolutely freezing!!! That evening our whole bus went out in town and had a huge night!great pics of this night, and great fun!!! The day after I had my first ever experience of snowboarding! Had some beginner lessons with one of the guys i'm travelling with - we had a right laugh, and we're both hooked by the end of the day. We got back to the hostel and had dinner and a few drinks before going to bed relatively early as i was soo tired. The next day I went to a place called Milford Sound - meant to be great views and waterfalls but it was soo misty that they were all spoiled. Not really worth spending a day doing this. The day after was my birthday!!! Stayed up the night before for the midnight turning into a 19 year old, and woke up late morning. We then went and did the Queenstown luge - you take a gondala ride up to the top of this huge hill, and then luge down before going back up to the top to do it all again. Had some fun with the guys making each other crash, and speeding down the hill at ridiculous speeds!!! In the afternoon, we went and did the Queenston Canyon Swing - like a bungy, but you are sitting in a harness and you freefall and then swing. 66m freefall and a 200m swing!!! Scary! Frightened myself to death and then went back to the hostel for a night on the town. Next day was Mike (one of the lads im travelling with) birthday as well. We bought a 3 day ski pass for the slopes and headed back out for some more snowboarding. The slopes were very icey at this point as no snow had fallen for about 4 days, and on my second run down the slope, i wiped out big time. Landed on my tailbone and broke it! Mike took me to the doctors when i got back to Queenstown, and all they can give you is painkillers. Spent the next two days just chilling in the hostel watching tv and stuff to mend my broke bum!!! :( Left Queens town on the 6th, and went back to Christchurch, heading north to the North Island.