Hello Everyone, It's been a while since I last updated this journal as we've been pretty busy in the last week and a bit but I'll recap what we've been up to since the last entry. We left off in a rather rushed way in the small town of Waitomo which we were visiting for one reason, to go Black Water Rafting. The essence of which is sitting in a rubber ring and floating down a stream inside a cave so nto as dangerous as it sounds. Anyway it was pretty cool and it was a chance to laugh at each other in wetsuits!! The whole day was brilliant and it was a good laugh, we also met a couple of girls who'd been at the Maori night and insisted on calling me Chief Ben still!! After the rafting we drove up to Auckland and booked into a hostel for our last three nights in New Zealand. On Monday we got up pretty late after all the madness of the last few days and headed into Auckland and to the Sky Tower, or Scotty as he is known to his friends. We headed up to the top of the sky tower and enjoyed the fantastic views of the Auckland skyline which was amazing. After that we walked around Auckland looking around the shops and just chilling out. Tuesday was our last day with our camper van and we were both very sorry to see the back of her as she'd looked after us on our 300km trip around the islands. We headed out of town to the Kelly Tarlton Underwater World which was an antarctic aquarium complete with really cool Penguins!! We also stuc around for the Ray and Shark feeding which was pretty cool. From there we headed out to the airport to drop the Van off at the rental place. I'd already received a speeding ticket, my first one and no points for my licence, just a $120 fine!! We got the Van packed off fine and then caught a bus back to the hostel in order to pack and prepare ourselves for the flight to Sydney. Wednesday came too soon as we weren't ready to leave New Zealand having both fallen in love with the beauty and laid back pace of the place. Our flight to Sydney was at a time which meant we weren't rushed in the morning but we weren't hanging around either so that was good. The flight was pretty uneventful until the descent into Sydney where the side me and Sara were on had the most spectacular view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, it was a real hair standing up on the back of your neck moment!! To top it off we did a loop into the airport that gave us the view from the other side as well, gutted for those people on the wrong side of the plane!! After customs and getting the shuttle to the hostel and checking in etc. we walked down to the harbour. It is an absolutely amazing place that as good as it looks in a picture or on the TV has to be seen to be appreciated, it was absolutely awesome!! We spent a bit of time taking a few photo's before the light defeated us and we had to head back. We bought take out Pizza and sat in Martins Place eating it while everyone spilled out of their offices! That evening there was a quiz on in the hostel which we took part in although we both did pretty badly!! On Friday morning we were up nice and early for our breakfast and then we headed out into Sydney. We had a bit of a mental walk everywhere day, starting off with Ducky's favourite the Botanical Gardens!! It's something you have to do when your in Sydney because they are beautiful, especially the Oriental Garden and the Flying Foxes, bat like things that fly about in the day. Not my idea of a good time but quite cool!! We then headed to Mrs Macquarie Point to get the photo of the Opera House with the bridge in the background. We then walked around to the Opera House and partook in one of the guided tours. It was a pretty good opportunity to learn a bit about the Opera House and it's history and also see inside all the theatres. When it was designed the Architect told the Oz Govt it would take 4 years and cost $7m, it ended up taking 15 years and costing $102m, this was also the cheap version as the architect fell out with the Govt and has not been back since the 50's!! From the Opera House we walked across to the bridge and out to the middle. It's not quite as impressive as the Golden Gate Bridge but it's still a pretty awesome bit of engineering, built by some Geordies which worried me a bit, if you've met Boyd you'll know why!! After that we walked into Darling Harbour and looked around there a bit before heading back to the hostel and collapsing for the night!! I'm going to break here and do another one for Sydney to Byron Bay as I know I tend to talk a bit!!