After a very hectic last few days we have arrived in Wellington. The last few days have been amazing. Its been non-stop activity after activity, topped off with my birthday! So on thursday after Jon went white water rafting tin the morning, I dragged him along with me to go 'Zorbing', this is where you get put in a giant rubber ball, filled up with water and roll down a hill....such a weird experience but great fun!You can't see out so you get totally disorientated, and it seems like it won't stop! We got caught in the rain walking back, and it got pretty chilly. The following morning (friday) we met up with Morwenna and Lauren on the magic bus (our means of transport around New Zealand). As we jumped on the bus we were asked whether we anted to skydive that day....we all thought that we would like to at some point in New Zealand but it felt like we had only just arrived! Conditions were perfect, not a cloud in the sky. Morwenna even got a bit burnt! We thought it would be a great thing for me to do the day before my birthday, so we agreed.... none of us really got worked up, it didnt seem like we would actually do it. It was only when I saw Lauren driop out the side of the plane at 15,000ft that it actually daned on me that I would be next, and there was no turning back! My stomach flipped, as we did a backwards somersault out of the plane reaching 200 milometeres an hour in 12 seconds! When we got into the freefall it was amazing, seeing as we went the highest you can we got a freefall of over a minute but it went so quickly! At one point I couldn't breathe which was a bit scary, but I was too preoccupied with wanting to look like I was enjoying myself in the DVD and photos. All I seem to do is wave the whole time! It was a cool experience and im defiantley pleased to be able to say ive jumped out a plane at 15,000ft!

On saturday it was my birthday!We were in Taupo, and Lauren, Morwenna and I had somehow managed to bag ourselves a private 3 bedded room off of a dorm for dorm price, which was cool. Morwenna jumped into my bunk and I opened up all my lovely cards and few little prezzies form people at home (thankyou very much for those!). I had a little shelf next to my bed so I was able to put up my cards, just like at home, haha. Jon,Wenna and I went out for lunch which was really nice, the weather was perfect; probabky the hottest day we had had in NZ so far! WE were all pretty tired so watched a film in the afternoon. We hunted down the hot-tub in the hostel garden and cracked open a bottle of bubbly, such a cool way to spend a birthday!We got turfed out at 8pm when they shut it, so we went down th PAK N' SAVE (my new favourite shop!) to get some supplies and had a nice chilled drink up on the decking of our hostel. Morwenna and Jon went out into the town, but I was just so tired and didn't want to over-do things.

Sunday was another chilled day, woke up late...wondered to the lake for a sunbathe, walked round the WHOLE of Taupo looking for the hot-water springs and finally had to give up when we could no longer see as it was so dark....so we got some fish and chips. De-lish!

Today we travelled from Taupo to Wellington, this is our final stop in the North Island, and then its on to the beautiful South! Should be good fun, lots of walking and amazing scenery I think. Also its meant to be a lot colder, today it has been about mid-20's! I have my wooley hat ready....so long as Jon doesn't steal it, as he has taken quite a fancy to it....hehe.

xx

xx