The flight was a long one and surprisingly I don’t have jet lag which is a bonus. I was greeted in Oxford by my mum and I have seen most of my family already today and will be seeing the rest on Wednesday.

I have just been looking through the photos and videos I have from my trip and there are hundreds. They will be on the website in the coming days after I have sorted things like my car etc (it hasn’t been moved for 2 months)!

Check back soon and the pictures and videos might be on here!

I made it with plenty of time but the coach was quite late arriving. The journey is supposed to be 11 hours but because of delays it was a 12 hour trip! Luckily for me I met a nice woman from Switzerland on the coach and the day passed very quickly. In the space of a day we have become friends and we are going to write to each other in each others languages (she speaks Swiss-German) when we get home – eek! When we arrived in Auckland we went out for something to eat and also a drink before heading back to our hostels

Today is my last full day in Auckland as I fly home tomorrow at 9.30pm. I am going to do a little shopping today for gifts as I haven’t really bought any yet!

Anyway, I must go

I didn’t get up to much yesterday in Kaikoura as the weather was pretty terrible. I met an old friend and went for a game of pool and then met about 10 people who had just started their trip on the Kiwi bus. We all had a few games of pool (including Killer) before we headed back to where we were staying.

Had a bit of a lay-in this morning but then headed for Picton where we got on the 1:15pm ferry. The weather is awful at the moment and it just won’t stop raining. Not that it bothers me that much as I am leaving tomorrow.

It also turns out that today was my last ever journey on the Kiwi Experience. I was thinking of making my own way back to Auckland anyway but after seeing the bus timetable today it turns out there is no bus from Taupo to Auckland on Saturday meaning if I hadn’t checked and had taken the bus I would have had to find alternative travel arrangements. If I hadn’t been able to do that I may have missed my flight.

As it happens there is an Intercity coach leaving Wellington tomorrow at 9:00am and arriving in Auckland at 8:20pm. I have booked the last seat on that bus – phew!

This means I will have 2 nights in Auckland before I fly home on Sunday

Had the same driver who took us from Queenstown to Christchurch and I can’t stand him. There are loads of new people on the bus who have started the Kiwi Experience. We arrived at a hostel earlier called ‘Top Spot’ and after hearing some of the tales and seeing it for myself I turned around and went and found somewhere else to stay. It’s quite a posh motel not far from the hostel but it’s like a palace in comparison. Seeing as I am nearing the end of the my trip I am going to stay in nice places rather than the bed bug ridden hell holes that Kiwi Experience put you into!

Not doing anything here in Kaikoura as the weather is so poor. Someone I met a few weeks ago is arriving here tonight so I may meet up with them later.

Heading to Wellington on the ferry tomorrow and have enquired about getting a bus from Wellington to Auckland as I don’t want to go on the Kiwi bus anymore. It will also mean missing Taupo but I have already been there and don’t see the point in staying there an extra night.

Flying home on Sunday so all those at home reading this, see you on Monday!

After arriving yesterday I had a dorm room at YHA and was woken up at about 1am by the other 3 people in the dorm coming in after a heavy drinking session. I didn’t mind too much to be honest although they kept calling me Harry (they think I look like the Prince). For the first time in weeks there was a snorer in the room so had to use my earplugs.

After getting up this morning I decided to get directions to the Air Force Museum which is just out of the city. What a mission it was to get to the museum! I caught a bus from the the bus exchange (why aren’t there any of these in England? – They are genius) and not knowing where I was, I missed my stop meaning I had to get a bus back in the other direction. Eventually I got there!

The museum was great with 28 planes in total including a few which I was suprised to see. They had a P51D Mustang, Spitfire and a Dakota amongst others. The building isn’t very well lit but hopefully the photos should come out ok. The place does not compare with Duxford and the gift shop is terrible but it was a nice place to visit.

I don’t have enough time to do the Tranz Alpine Train to Greymouth as I leave tomorrow on the Kiwi Bus (oh joy)! I went to the Flight Centre today to enquire about flying to Auckland as I have had enough of the bus but for some reason the flights are mega expensive so I am going to take the bus up (which is already paid for).

Off to Kaikoura tomorrow where I have the chance to see Dolphins and go Whale Watching. I have already seen dolphins in the wild here in New Zealand so I might give that a miss but depending on the weather I might go whale watching.

Right, time to go. Take care all.

Christchurch seems ok so far although it was on the news yesterday because 6 tourists got beaten up and stabbed (some of which were English). There is a lot of police about which makes you feel a little safer but this place reminds me of England.

I am staying 2 nights here although I might stay an extra day and fly to Auckland to catch my flight home. It seems a bit pointless to keep stopping off at places I have already been on the way back up to Auckland. We will see.

I would like to take the day trip on the trans alpine railway which goes through the mountains and back and would also like to visit the aviation museum but both are quite far out of town so will need to enquire about buses. Took some cool photos today which I will get on here soon.

Take care all (I shall be taking care here that’s for sure)! 

I haven’t been doing an awful lot with my time here. Went on the Luge again yesterday with Bec, Louise and her boyfriend which was fun. We had some epic races and thankfully no one got hurt which is always a good thing. After a relaxing day I headed down to the bar, had a few games of pool and then moved onto a club.

All was good and everyone was having a good time until a friend of mine got into an altercation with a guy on the dancefloor and a fight broke out. Being relatively sober compared to the others in our group I stepped in and broke it up. I then held the guy who started it until the bouncers came and dragged the trouble maker out. That was my good deed of the day

I haven’t done an awful lot today, I went for a walk around the lake and saw a boat hit its propeller on a rock and have to use the smallest outboard in the world to get it back to shore. I also bumped into a few people I knew and had some lunch etc.

I don’t think I will be going out tonight (famous last words). Tomorrow night is my last here in Queenstown so I shall be out with some friends who are returning tomorrow.

Take care all

I have also changed my flight (again) so I now have a confirmed date to fly home meaning I will get to go to an event I don’t want to miss

Not sure when I am leaving Queenstown either now as I want to travel to Christchurch with some friends but I am running out of time meaning I could be cutting it quite fine to reach Auckland for my flight home so will have to check dates and book all my onward travel to make sure it all goes smoothly.

Anyway, take care all and more updates will come soon.

The boat can reach speeds of up to 80kph and is within touching distance of the rocks either side. I loved every second and has been the best of the 3 jet boats I have been in! The boat uses the Shotover River and the company are the only ones allowed to take boats through the canyon.

So what else am I doing? Well most nights seem to consist of going out (like last night) and tonight is Bec’s birthday (we used to work together at Landmark) so will be out for that.

How long am I here for? I am leaving Queenstown on the 14th and then heading to Christchurch.

Take care all

Here are some more pictures from my adventures in New Zealand. I had been waiting for these Bungy Jump pictures for over a week but finally I have them. This was my first jump ever and it was from the Kawarau Bridge. This jump was the first ever commercial Bungy Jump in the world and over 400,000 people have done it.

Waving Goodbye:

Heading towards the river below:

Click here to see a photo which is not suitable for minors and you may also need sunglasses!

On a Jet Boat:

Bin Bag Fancy Dress (I am Batman):

The Luge at Rotorua (seems ages ago now):

Singing a song to a bus load of people (was very funny):

Having fun at a Tea Party:

Thats your lot for now! Take care all