Hello all. We've just arrived back from our tour around part of the North Island on the big green Kiwi Bus. Have so much to tell as we've crammed a lot into the last week! After a quick stop at one of nearly 70 dormant volcanoes in the region (Mt Eden), we left Auckland last Monday heading towards the Coromandel Peninsula - a really beautiful part of the Island. It's amazing how quickly you leave the city and are surounded by breathtaking 'Lord of the Rings...

The few days we spent in Kyoto were amazing, I've never done so much sightseeing in my life. The city is so interesting - a real mesh of modern buildings combined with breathtaking temples around every almost every corner! The main things we saw were: Sausanjendo (don't think I've spelt that right, but haven't got time to check!) which is the longest wooden structure in the world and contains 1001 gold plated statues all depicting Kannon, the Goddess o...

G'day Oh sorry, that's wrong now that we're in New Z. Now they just say hello grumpily and stare for a second. However, enough about New Zealand, I must tell you about my new best friend Barnsey.... The day after our last update we went on a mini bus tour of the rainforest and wildlife around Cairns. We were met in the morning by a bloke in small shorts and a moustache called 'Bob' (who took an extra special shine to Louise!) and boarded his small bus ...

After our monster 13 hour coach trip we decided against our better judgement to stay in a Koala run hostel again - we had to use those vouchers that the guy at the travel agents gave us as we are slowly running out of money! We took the free bus to the hostel and checked in and $14 certainly doesn't get you very far Oz as our room turned out to be a dive, as expected. Although, it seems that the crapper the hostel, the better the showers.... After scrubbing ...

Whilst in Byron Bay, Pete and I did some research into a 2night/3day 4 wheel drive camping trip to Fraser Island - the largest sand island in the world, just off the coast from Hervey Bay. We caught the greyhound bus to Hervey Bay, stopping off for a night in Surfers Paradise, which was very commercial and would be good for shopping if we had any money! Once at the very undesirable 'Koala Hostel' in Hervey bay, we attended a meeting where we met the other people ...