Since starting my blog way back on the 13th of January I have had, as you might imagine, lots of varied experiences - adrenalin fuelled, nature focused, travel filled amongst many others. What I have managed to do here in just over two months is more than I may have done in a few years back home. Which brings me to what is I suppose the subject of this particular blog - the beauty of travel. I have gained much from this trip, not least the physical challenges sur...

Monday night gifted me with the best sleep I've had in two months, naturally having my own room and being in blissfully silent surroundings helped this very much. I woke up early Tuesday ready and raring for my first day of helping out. We first sat down to some breakfast - avocado (straight from the tree) on toast and proper ground bean coffee. Great start to a beautiful sunny day. Chris showed me around the farm which was much larger than I had expected and so ...

For the next couple of weeks I will be calling a little town called KatiKati home. This is where I'm going to be helping out (or doing my best to be of use!) Chris and Jess who run Liberty growers farm - http://www.libertygrowers.co.nz. Check out their website to see the awesome herbs, veg and fruit they grow here hydroponically. I flew yesterday from Nelson to Wellington and after a brief stopover onto Tauranga which is the closest big city to the farm at KatiKa...

Ok, so this is the first blog I've pre-written in my diary before publishing. Normally I like to write and post straight away so that I don't overthink my writings, much like essays and exams but this blog is quite a lengthy tome. My first couple of days in Nelson I think have, without wanting to sound like I'm exaggerating, been emotionally the toughest of the trip mostly because I needed to shake myself and get a grip but also because I missed family, friends a...

I left the bus behind and arrived in Kaikoura on Valentine's Day. I had previously booked myself into a place called dolphin lodge which has proven to be one of my favourite hostels so far, exactly what I've been looking for after the run of the mill hostels kiwi ex bring you to. I re met a girl I'd met in Franz Josef which was very cool and gained some Australian parents which my own parents will be glad to know I'm sure (they were checking I drank enough water,...