SO after filling our belly's with free breakfast we got on the road and headed off to our drop off point for the car. I had print screened the map on the laptop so we shouldn't of gotten lost.... how wrong I was. Firstly we were travelling around Kelburn in wellington looking for Kelburn park as it was a big landmark near the street we needed. After asking several people and getting many blank looks, it wasn't until a girl looked at the map on the laptop and realised we needed kilburnie and not kelburn!! why would 2 places with similar names be next to each other!! so we looked like fools, but nothing new. When eventually in kikburnie we filled up with petrol where dean decided to cover himself in the stuff and smell the car out with petrol, minutes before dropping it off. Once on the street we drove up and down several times before realising we had to drop it off at a motel and not an actual car hire shop which was a little strange, but everything was fine with the car so we were happy.
We got a lift to wellington to Te papa museum which was pretty cool, Massive though. We were in there 4 hours and still only saw half the floors. With the weather being really nice we decided to leave and have a walk around the capital, Welllington. On the way out from the museum several maori men (Native kiwis) dressed in nothing but a frilly thong came running out doing the hakka. (A native dance in bare feet involving ooooing and arrring hitting there chest and showing us there cute bums :D ha) .Was very entertaining. That night we had to stay in a motel just out of Wellington as there was no room in any other hotels or motels due to the rugby world cup. The hostel cost about 45pound each!!! This was astronomical compared to what we have been paying and didn't include breakfast or have a free food fridge, not cool.With getting this hostel we had to get a train back to wellington at 6am so we were very tired that morning. We walked to the ferry port from the station in wellington and checked our bags in and got aboard. The ferry was quite impressive with a cinema and kids playground but we spent most of the time on deck watching the most fantastic scenery, plus we got to see dolphins with baby calf so we were very happy.
Meeting us at the port was my Aunty and her partner Mark who we were very glad to see!!! They are probably two of the nicest people you will meet and we were so happy to see some family. Unfortunately the weather was horrendous with gale winds and rain. They took us to the harbour where there boat "mahalia" is moored. They wanted to move the boat to a different birth (a parking space for the boat) but the weather was just so bad they thought they would have to come back or sleep on the boat till tomorrow. Never the less Dean and mark climbed aboard the boat and Mark instructed Dean on what to do and both moved the boat. They did very well considering the weather; it was just a shame as dean loved the experience of being able to help. Dean did the whole experience in his none waterproof anorak and Jesus sandals. He did the whole boat trip in his sandal due to the blister pain, bless him.
On route home, we did a little shopping and stopped at a few bays and places to see some fantastic views.
They live in an area called takaka which is right up north and only one road up there over the mountains and right down in a small valley. They showed us around there house which is one of the most beautiful houses I have seen. Magnificent views to the mountains, a hot tub, a beautiful conservatory into the garden and the most amazing bath tub!! The best bit about it was me and dean were sleeping in the sleep-out which has its own bathroom and two rooms. So cosy, especially the massive double bed;so tall dean has to do a run up to get in, just kidding lol.
After a really good night's sleep we woke up to hundreds of birds swarming around the place and the sun beaming through our room. My aunty cooked pancakes for breakfast and we just lazed about in the sun. We were definitely being treated like royalty! Especially because They were cooking us both a Sunday dinner with apple crumble for tea woop!! Midday we went through a few of the bays with Mark and Aunty Julie and went to a beautiful beach. In one direction there was the sea with islands all around then mountains full of green trees and palm trees and in another mountains covered with snow! So surreal. Walking down the beach's golden sands the beach was deserted, the area they live in is so quiet we had the whole beach to ourselves. We stopped off at the local pub to have a drink and sat outside in the sun.
Wer'e both very much excited as one of the places we wanted to visit was Kakoira due to the vast amount of dolphin and seal sightings. Both Mark and Aunty Julie said if they could they would take us out on their boat for a couple of days and said they know the hotspots for dolphins and seals where there are plentiful and a few occasions have seen orca!! Eeeee excited. Also excited as we have been invited for a meal with Aunty Julies and Marks friends on their boat next week which should be fun.

Hope everyone is ok xxxxxx