Well after about a month in Australia we made it to New Zealand on Saturday, however, we doubted whether fate did not want us to stay here as it took an hour to get from the plane to the arrivals hall where Dave's relatives were waiting patiently for us. We were sat at the back of the plane and so were last off, then had to join a massive and ridiculously slow passport control queue, before collecting our bags and joining the equally long customs queue! THEN, we had to have our tent checked over because we had used it in Australia. Hard work! But it has been worth it :-)

We are staying in Wellington with David's Uncle Graham, his partner Nikki and their children Samantha, Stephanie, Catherine, Jamie and Jackson - cousins he had never met and so it has been very nice to get to know everybody. We were pretty tired on the saturday after having only 3-4hours sleep after going out in Melbourne the night before our flight, and so after a meal at the pub with Graham and Nikki we got an earlyish night. On the sunday we all went into town where we were pretty much forced onto the Reverse Bungy; we were both a little nervous but it was so much fun and we were so glad we did it! It was amazing! It also felt alot safer than a real bungy as we were shot into the air rather than plummeting towards the ground! After an afternoon spent in Wellington and visiting the Te Papa museum, we had fish and chips for tea and then met some more family and friends at a little party at the house which was really good and we felt like we were getting to know everyone alot better by this point. After the party was over we watched a video of David as a baby and he realised where his fear of tall buildings and rollercaosters comes from...there was footage of Graham holding Dave by the back of his dungarees and swinging all over the place! He is a little bit big for that now though! Oh yeah, and nice hair Janet! (Dave made me say that!)

We spent our last day here avoiding getting wet in the torrential rain (which we really enjoyed, it was a nice change which reminded us of home!); we went for lucnh and looked around the shops for a while with Graham and Nikki before going on a coastal drive to soak in the scenery. We all had a little nap then as we had a late night the night before, making the most of the peace and quiet before Jackson, their hyperactive 2 year old, arrived home! Graham and Dave cooked chinese for us all and then David and I attempted to keep Jackson focussed on eating...he has so much energy, we have never seen anything like it! He's good fun though.

In the morning we pick up our rental car and head off through the north island to Lake Taupo and then onwards! So far so good in New Zealand, and it has been great meeting Dave's family...thanks so much for everything! We shall write again soon,

Lots of love to everyone, Joanne and David xxxxxxxxxxxxxx