Hello from the New Land of Zeal! Ever since I arrived I have loved every second in New Zealand - the people are so warm and friendly and the scenery in beautiful. The South Island is supposed to be even more spectacular and thus far it certainly doesn't disappoint!

From Brisbane I made my way over to Auckland and had a night in a hostel before the tour started the next day. It was so hot and sticky in Oz I was really hoping for some nice fresh air but sadly there was none to be found! Auckland was a very pretty city much like Australia really, I didn't have much time there to properly explore but from what I did see it was cool!

Gathering in the foyer before the start of the tour I met two girls who were also about to get on the bus - Gemma and Caroline - we were chatting away so much that other people on the tour actually thought that we had been travelling together! Even though I had been a little aprehensive about who I may have been travelling with for the next few weeks I was almost instantly put at ease! Everyone who got on the bus seemed lovely and we were only ever going to have a great time!

Our first stop from Auckland was the Bay of Islands in the very North. We were due to stay there for two nights and as soon as we arrived I think we were all glad of that! It was absolutely beautiful! We were staying in a little holiday village and it was so quiet and peaceful, until we arrived at least! That night Caroline, Rickard and I sat on the porch with a few bottles of wine - lots of the others were fairly jet lagged and so went to bed pretty early but we had a really good evening chatting and getting to know each other a little better.

The following day we got to do a full day boat tour of the Islands with the potential of swimming with dolphins! The Islands were all lush and green and the water was crystal blue. Each Island has maybe one house onit and our boat tour acted as a delivery system! The captain would sound his horn and then someone would come to the end of the jetty to collect their newspaper and shopping! It was brilliant to watch! As the day went on we went through the hole in the rock - original name but great to see! It was quite eerie and the captain told us stories about jumping spiders which certainly didn't excite us to hang around! Soon after he got a call to say a pod of dolphins had been spotted and so we raced our way back. Once we were all snorkelled up we had to jump into what was essentially a giant fishing net! They were due to drop the net so we could swim out of it but the dolphins had moved on a little so the boat started to follow them. We were thrown against the side of the net and dragged through the water desperately trying to stay afloat! The net was suddenly dropped and the guy yelles 'SWIM SWIM' but we were all so dazed and confused it took us a little while to get our bearings! Sadly with all the noise and commotion the wild dolphins got a little scared and swam off although we did get a brief glimpse! When we got back Michelle and Luke our tour guides cooked us dinner and we finished off the wine! Good times!

The next day we headed to Rotorua via Auckland to pick up some new recruits! We stopped off at Whangarei on the way and saw a kauri tree - the largest tree I have ever seen in my life! You would need at least 10 people to tree hug! Rotorua is tha Maori capital of NZ and that night we got to stay in a living Marae! It acts essentially as a village hall I guess but the spiritual significance of the building is much deeper. We had to perform a entry ceremony, sampled the traditional dishes and listened to stories. All that before the sleeping bag races!

The day after we stayed in Rotorua town and visited an exclusively Maori village called Whakarewarewa - what a mouthful but I think I've mastered it now! The whole place is full of gysers, hot springs and mud pools - the smell of sulphur was a little overpowering at first but you soon get used to it! We had a tour of the village and got to see their daily routine as well as a Haka - I would be so scared if I were playing the All Blacks! In the afternoon we took adrenaline to the max and went to Hells Gate Spa! We bathed in hot mud and sulphur pools and it felt so good! We went out for a group meal that night and stopped off at the supermarket on the way back to pick up some more wine to have in our mini room spas! Pampered or what!

We left Rotorua the next day and headed to Wellington but stopped in Taupo on the way. Lake Taupo is a sight to be had - huge and the misty cloud that day made it that bit more enchanting. Some of the group did a bungy jump which we got to watch! That certainly made my decision for me - there was absolutely no way I was ever going to jump! By the time we got to Wellington it was around 5pm and Steffi and I went for a stroll along the harbour - we saw so many rowing boats I was desperate to get in! That night was a big night! The hostel bar laid on special drink promotions which was dangerous! Our tour song - Don't hold back by The Potbellys came on and so we were obliged to dance on all the tables and the bar! Brilliant fun although it did get messy towards the end of the night!

Bleary eyed and ready for sight seeing we jumped on the bus and had a tour of the city before going to Te Papa museum. It was a fairly slow morning and the afternoon we got on the Inter Islander Ferry. We sat out on the top deck and the views were incredible! The South Island was cetainly going to be good!

We had two nights in Nelson and while some of the group were doing skydiving a group of us took a trip around the Abel Tasman National Park. We kayaked the first stretch and I was really wowed by the scenery - I don't think I have ever seen such beautiful and untouched nature! We paddled past split apple rock - the picture above - and around a colony of fur seals! We got to walk back through the park itself and the views were sensational! I was certainly glad to have chosen that option! Once back at the Lodge we heard about the skydive tales over dinner and watched some of the videos which were brilliant!

Tomorrow we head further south - I am so excited - it's set to get even more breathtaking!

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