Since coming out of the cave last week the weather has changed for the worse. When it rains here, it doesn't just rain it pores and forgets to stop! Because it was so wet Kirstin and I had decided to go to the indoor climbing wall and I thought the quickest way to get their would be to cycle. Unfortunately, Kirstin had got us lost on the way and I had made the wrong decision about taking the bikes, so in adding the two together we got very wet. Almost enough not go climbing, but we went and had fun all the same. In the evening we cooked some really nice food. After skyping a the folks and Mike, Kirstin and I went out for a walk and ended up outside a bar area listening to a band for a while.

I had to get up early the following morning so to get a 8am bus to Greymouth, I'm still not sure whether Greymouth is always just a grey and dark place or whether it was due to the constant rain but it's not a place that I would choose to live. The grey felling may also be amplified due to the Pike River mining accident which happened in November 2010 killing several men, most of whom were from Greymouth.

I was pleased after having none stop company for the past nine weeks to finally have some time to myself. This was nice for a few days, and the dog at Noah's Hostel kept me company for an evening and as frightening as this may sound to some, I actually have grown rather fond of the animals I have met along the way. That evening I did however end up playing a game of what we Brits would call 'lodu' but what the German guys called 'don't worry be happy'.

The following day I travelled down the west coast of the South Island to Franz Joseph, with a few interesting stops alone the way. However, the torrential rain continued, resulting in the glacier walk I had planned being cancelled. So that afternoon I started to walk on the main road towards the glacier however it wasn't long before I was picked up by a family in a camper van. In attempting the walk to the glacier, the second half of the path was closed due to the rain. It was nice however to see the glacier, even just from a distance and to watch huge blocks of ice float down the river. While I was meant to be staying at a youth hostel for three days in Franz Joseph I bailed and left first thing the following morning - due to the poor weather.

The following day, I headed to Lake Wanaka, and as soon as I arrived I was greeted by an ever familar sea of cloud across the lake. I was later to spend that evening in a 10 bedroom dorm with only four Isreala guys for company. Awaking the next day, I took a peak out the window to discover not rain, nor cloud but infact a marvellous looking morning. So I threw on my walking boots and headed to the tourist information centre to get more information regarding local walks. I was in luck as a local farmer offered to give me a lift to the starting point of the track. That day, I walked up Roy's Peak (1578m) and Mount Alpha (1630m) which had views that were by far the best views I had seen since touching down in New Zealand, helped by the glorious weather. I had to laugh at myself, every time I turned a corner on the switch back up the hill, my jaw would drop every time. I thought I would have got used to the view, but I never did. Between peaks, I remember standing still for a moment, there wasn't a sound - not a bird or a drop of wind, instead I was greeted by the most amazing 360 degree view. Upon finishing the walk, I had a long walk back via Lake Wanaka to the youth hostel - I hadn't realised the walk was so far out of town.

That evening, I thought I'd treat myself to a soft drink at the youth hostel bar, turns out I need I.D. to drink a lemonade in a bar. I honestly thought that the bar man was joking so I laughed at him until I realised that he was serious.

Now on to Christmas...... what can I say, it was a strange one and nothing in my head was telling me it was Christmas. On Christmas eve I took a walk to a place called Puzzling World which I thought would just be OK, but it turned out to be fantastic. I loved one of the rooms it had, the illusion room with the faces - have a look at my uploaded video and you'll see what I mean. Following this, I undertook the challenge of doing the worlds first multi-story maze. I thought it would be easy as kids do it, but I found myself frustrated and eager to get out. Then I thought to myself if I can climb mountains then I can get out of the maze without cheating! I finally made my way out, hungry and thirsty!

On the way back to Lake Wanaka I had planned to take a hike to the top of a local hill, but again because of the torrential down pores I gave it a miss. Instead, I went for a Christmas eve swim in the lake (which would be unheard of in Scotland at Christmas) and although it was freezing it was very special. That day I headed to Queenstown, eating out in a famous burger place, Fergburge with two girls that I met on the bus. As I couldn't decided what to have, I treated myself to two burgers (and they weren't small either).

I met my first Scottish person that evening in the bunk below me, although younger than me it turns out she went to Perth Academy. It's a small world.

On Christmas day I went for an early morning walk along the waterfront. I sat for a while admiring the beautiful view. In the time I was sitting there, I was almost hit by three different frizbies that families were out throwing around. I thought that this was strange behaviour. A few days later, I found out when out for a walk to the lovely botanic gardens that I had been sat on a park bench that was next to a famous frizby golf course.

Later that morning, I met Kirstin, who was now in Queenstown with her family. Together we spent time at the BBQ that the backpackers had on which overlooked the lake and snow peaked mountains. I then went out for dinner with Kirstin and her family later that evening to a lovely French restaurant. The meal was amazing and the company was lovely! That evening we headed back to Kirstin's hotel room where we lay in the hot tubs until 12.30. I then headed back to the hostel to skype home in time for my family opening a present each.

Boxing day turned out to be another nice day, after lunch I took a walk up to the summit of Ben Lomond (NZ not Scotland!), and again was rewarded with the most incredible 360 views overlooking Queenstown and beyond. This followed with a late night in the hot tub at Kirstins hotel.

Christmas had been more special that I had expected, my only stipulation had been that I had to have a BBQ and be by the water, and in the end I got so much more than that!