SOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!! I couldn't sleep last night because I was so so excited about Australia!!!!!!!! Christchurch airport was almost on a scale with LA! I got the shuttle to the drop-off point where I then had to walk through a building site to get to the international departures terminal. Typically Qantas check-in was the furthest one away. First I had to pay my departure fee - one of the most ridiculous ideas EVER!!!! Having to pay to leave the country!Waht are they going to do not let me leave unless I pay it!?!?! Entrance Tax I could maybe understand but paying $25 to leave the country What a JOKE! Joined what I was sure would be my first of many queues today to check-in somehow even though I havn't bought anything new, I left the remains of my shampoo and conditioner at the hostel and i sent 4kgs of stuff home my backpack is 1kg heavier than when I left Fiji?!?!?!?!?!?! Now I had to locate the security gate - easier said than done! the signs were pointing at the shops and currency exchange. And then I spotted it a tiny desk infront of some double doors with a sign infront - departure lounge re-opens at 12.35! On the TB above this sign there was a message reading "Fight QF46 to Sydney - proceed to departures lounge" I would if I could!!!!!! So I had to wait until it opened again when a huge mass of people would no doubt all try to get through at once! I filled in my first random form of the day - a departure form - I can't see any point of this apart from to waste time and trees! Any way rant over! After the initial dislike for the airport when I got through to the departure lounge it turned out to be quite nice - it had sofa's rather than just your normal uncomfortable plastic seats! I had a good seat on the plane - at the front of the cabin so LOTS of leg room :) and had to fill in 2 more forms - the usual "I don't have huge amounts of cash or guns" but this time medication had to be declared and for some reason this was in the same category as "Knives Firearms and Illegal substances" so I had to check yes for that category!!! And there was also a health form - swine flu panic!!!! I made a concentrated effort to not cough for the whole time I went through immigration!!! After a pretty turbulent journey we touched down in Sydney at 3.30pm local time - it was sunny and 20oC - woohoo!!! Time to go through immigration my favourite hobby - luckily because I was near the front of the plance I got there before the queues started but oh no there was a problem - my middle name wasn't in my visa - what a tradgedy!!!!!! So not only did I have to stand at the desk for ages until a woman managed to get out of the office - with her mouth stuffed full trying to disguise the fact that she had been stuffing her face, I then had to go and sit and wait for 5 whole painful minutes in the chairs where they put the dodgey illegal immigrants - ACE! After all this cuffufle it was off to another of my favourite hobbies - wiating for my luggage- my backpack came out in one of the first 20 bags Good Times! So I was able to whizz through to "Goods to Declare" - "Madame which out of Medication firearms knives or illegal substances do you have in your luggage" I wanted to laugh but immigraiton and customs people are scary so I just told her! My walking boots weren't muddy enough to get a free clean so I was allowed to enter Australia - it was only 4pm record time through immigration I am getting good at this! After a shuttle to my hostel by 5pm I was out exploring Sydney! I love the hustle and bustle there is - so much more city like than anywhere in New Zealand! I am so excited for more exploring tomorrow!!!!! :)