Queenstown We left Arrowtown and took the route 6A to Queenstown through treelined windy roads with right angle corners! Very difficult driving downhill at high speed. Queenstown is very cool, with a european vibe to it, for a small place, there is lots to do. Unfortunately when we arrived the rain was coming down hard and we had to leave the centre early in order to find a spot for the night. Rain rain rain, all night long, in fact for the next 48 hours non...

April 13th-19th For the past 6 days we have been staying with another helpxchange host. Chris and Jackie, who live on a great property in a place called 'pyramid valley' so named after the surrounding mountain ranges. They lived with their three docile (but massive) dogs and their 7 month old baby Charlie. We helped out on the farm, attempting to move stock, (which was harder than it looked, as sheep arent half as stupid as they look.), demolishing some units in...

We decided to see the south island before it got too cold so we booked two tickets for the bluebridge ferry and sailed across the Abel Tasman to the South Island. The journey took about 3 hours and was a bit smelly as the boat was often used as a freight to transport livestock. I had hoped to see dolphins swimming along beside us but no such luck :( We came In to the Marlborough Sounds and felt like we had finally entered Lord of the Rings country. Pine tre...

Kati katI March 15th We arrived at John and Michelle's place just outside Kati kati, and we were immediately wowed by their house/land/view. They're situated on a hill with a panoramic view of the coast, encompassing mt Manganui no less. They had a deer farm and a plot of 300 acres which we explored whilst walking their dog Ruby. Michelle and John were so welcoming and Michelle made some amazing meals while we were there. Can't wait to go back and try the V...

Coromandel,march 12th Our second work exchange was somewhat different to the first and quite an experience. We arrived in Kennedy Bay, located over a steep and windy 'gravel road' track over a vast hill, to the sound of air raid style sirens. Is was alarm calling all the volunteer fireman to the station (as its so remote its run by locals in the community), this meant a bush fire had started somewhere close. We eventually saw the thick plumes of smoke, and...