Coming to New Zealand, I didn't quite know what to expect. I was imagining Lord of the Rings type beautiful, serene landscapes and...sheep. While I was right, there is actually so much more! Little did I know that it is also home to some of the most extreme (sometimes strange), adrenalin-inducing activities like bungy-jumping, sky-diving, raftin...

Emmerdale-tastic!!!! Our 3rd job in NZ has turned out to be THE best, by a long teat:-) Working down on the farm with the Simmonds mob was an experience, adventure and a great laugh. Hetty gave us a laugh with her encyclopedic joke book, Bec made sure we were well fed and Nick was keen to ensure there were no dry spells;-o We got the chance to d...

So after a very boring 11 hours on a train we finally arrived in Wellington, not realising that it was to become our home for the next few months! We had an instantly good feeling about the city and immediately starting discussing what it would be like to live here. We stuck to our plan to head down to Nelson a few days later but we knew that if...

So it was time to move on from the rains of Rotorua... to the rains of everywhere else. We left on the Intercity just before 9 in the morning only to encounter our first road block of the journey. An over turned truck, meaning that the road between Taupo and Turangi was closed, so it was the scenic detour for us. Which allowed us time to see a l...

Lord of the Rings... take two! OK, so we've all been to Isengard and Rivendell. The next stop on this tour takes us to Dry Creek Quarry, where the massive (and probably best) sets of Helms Deep and Minas Tirith were constructed. As you can guess, they're no longer there, which is of course a huge disappointment. Helms Deep was constructed first ...

You can't really come to New Zealand and not do something to do with Lord of the Rings. Well, maybe you can but where's the fun in that? Can you say spoilsport? Anyway, the trilogy has taken over, in a global sense, and (whether the kiwi's want it to or not) New Zealand has become known to everyone else around the world as 'Lord of the Rings lan...

In the lift at the Wellington YHA I was squashed in with some rather podgy English nerds who were warbling on about their awesome MySpace pages. I thought about stopping at the next floor and pushing them out when they started talking about a MySpace-sponsored film premiere that night in the cinema round the corner. It turned out that the stars ...

G'day! Oh.. I mean hello there. It's been a while since my last update but for those of you who don't know I moved down to Brisbane at the end of last year. I've been trying to get the necessary work visa sorted out but strewth it's been harder than keeping an Abo off the grog. As such I had to leave the country for a few days to renew my touris...

21st to 23rd Jan 2008 The knee is fine now, just a small bruise but the pain and swelling have gone. Arrived in Wellington on Mon, 21st via Talihape, the capital of "gumboot" throwing or wellies. Had a go at this for a few minutes then headed down to Wellington. Went out with all the guys from the bus for dinner and then headed for a bar for a f...

Well, I went back to Wellington just to go on a LotR day tour. (I had to see as much of LotR locations as I could, didn't I?) I was quite lucky to get on one since the Lions Tour was going on and the Lions (UK and Irish rugby team) were in town and most were book. But I got a seat!!! Yay, and it was a great tour! Definitely to be recommended.

Entry containing 13 photos titled: The cruise over to the south island, The cruise over to the south island1, The cruise over to the south island2, The cruise over to the south island3, The cruise over to the south island4, The cruise over to the south island5, Wellington, Wellington 3, Wellington Harbour1, Wellington Harbour2, Wellington Harbour3, Wellington Harbour4, Wellington4

Entry 10 of a trip titled: Half the world away...

We're starting off in New Zealand, travelling both islands. Then it's off to Oz. Melbourne to begin with, then heading up the East coast. From Brisbane we fly to Phuket. We're spending about 6 weeks in Thailand possibly including a week in Laos. Followed by a night in Singapore. Then to top it all of we're off to Indonesia for provisionally two weeks-hopefully three!

I had originally planned to spend a week in Wellington, but I am feeling a bit pinched for time, so I elected for a few days less. The few days I elected to spend in Wellinton happened to coincide with a cricket test-match. The result was me having to stay in 3 different hostels over the period of my stay, even having booked these almost a week ...

Entry 2 of a trip titled: Kiwi Dreams

1/2 year in a Hostfamily in Kerikeri + Some trips around New zealand (Nelson(Abel tasman park trekking), picton(ferry), kaikoura (whaleswatch),christchurch (city trip +rafting),greymouth & the pancakes rocks + (the west coast), franz Josef (Walk day on the FJ Glacier), Queenstown (Skydiving, Bungy jumping, Lord of the ring walk), Te anau (+Doubtfull sound), Dunedin (Chocolate factory, otago bay, concerts +shopping :-) , Auckland (city trip), Rotorua (Volcans, Geysers, Steaming pools, mud pools, ...) Taupo (bungy again), Taupo bay (surfing), Paihia (swim with dolfins boattrip), matauri bay (Scuba diving), Kerikeri (living place, my high school), Wellington (city trip), and many more

The boat journey over on the ferry was pleasant enough, the sun was shining and the view was good. Ariving into the harbour Vern and i almost fainted with shock at the sight of high rise buildings. They do exist in New zealand after all. we became excited at the prospect of being in a proper city at last. We checked in to the YHA and then set ou...

Vrijdag 6 Juni Ik kan alleen een nacht in de YHA verblijven. Vrijwel alle hostels zijn volgeboekt voor de rugby wedstrijd over het weekend. Ik heb gehoord van twee kamer genoten dat er nog bedden vrij zijn bij een andere hostel en ook zij moeten 'verhuizen'. Ik besluit het mijzelf niet te moeilijk te maken en bel het hostel op om te vragen of ze...

Entry 69 of a trip titled: From Japan to America - 10 months around the world

Stacey and myself want to keep you all up-to-date with our adventures (and obviously we want to rub it in) Have fun reading xxx

I've spent the last week and a half travelling all over the north island of New Zealand. I only spent one day in Auckland. The next morning I caught the Kiwi Experience bus to Mercury Bay where we relaxed on the beach and I got to know some of the other passengers on the bus. One of the other passengers brought a rugby ball so we spent some time...

It may as well be the Antarctic. The further south you go, the colder it gets... and the rainier it gets too. Grrr.... I was warm in Brisbane, cosy, sun drenched, able to where t-shirts and shorts. Now I have to venture to shops in 3 fleeces and half a gore-tex factory. Anyway, it was well highlighted that the drive form Taupo to Wellington boas...

New Zealand, and the Southern Hemisphere in general, are different than the north. First off, its fall here. I left Boston at the end of winter and have seemingly gone back in time. Starbucks is featuring lattes with Cinnamon and pumpkin spice, ski shops are having pre-season sales, and the days are pleasant and crisp while the nights are very c...

I'm not sure I've ever been to a cleaner, kinder, more efficient city than Wellington, New Zealand. The capital of the country, there is a lot to like about Wellington; there were some of my favorites: -The harbor. Like many coastal cities, Wellington's harbor is multifunctional; along it are commercial shops, upscale residential developments, a...

Okay, time to dog the Kiwis.... I thought grunge died with Curt Cobain, but no it is alive and well in Wellington. There were more goth kids, grung, metal, punks on the streets than I'd seen in a decade. The shops along Cuba Street were filled with used clothing stores, head shops and places selling crystals, etc. Kinda a bummer of a city. Trans...

After a long bus ride from Queenstown, i arrived back to where i started, in Christchurch. This time was different though, this time it was special. I was going to see England vs the All Blacks at the AMI stadium. The town was buzzing as was I. I had managed to get my hands on one of the last tickets on sale a few days back in Wanaka and after w...

Our Christmas celebrations began when all the gifts were wrapped under the tree and we ventured out around the corner to a great Italian restaurant. The food was delicious and we ate in a lovely canopied area. The two of us left Amanda in a cocktail bar with some friend's of her sisters who are living in Wellington. We went to the 11.30pm carol ...

After a very interesting day of traveling I have finally arrived in New Zealand. My flight from LA to Auckland went well apart from a slight hiccup . . . An elderly German couple was sitting next to me, I didn't think they spoke English because they were quietly talking amongst themselves in German. However, after they raised their wine glasses ...

It is my final day in Wellington. At least I think it is my final day in Wellington, I have yet to book a spot on a ferry for tomorrow. I am so glad I am no longer in winter, it is so nice to wear shorts and t-shirts . . . Wellington has been fun. Yesterday I did the history nerd thing and toured parliament and Old St. Paul's, then I walked arou...

It was a long trip but I finally mde it here to Wellington yesterday around 4:30 p.m. The flights went well, Figi was hot and humid, but I was only there for four hours. I'm now at the Wellington City YHA and it is amazing. I have already met so many nice and friendly people. I talked to one girl my same age last night while eating dinner in the...

30th November 2004 Auckland Flew to Auckland after luckily sharing a cab with a couple of Scots. Arrived in Auckland after losing a couple of hours, we are now 12 hours ahead of the UK, a full 180 degrees around the planet from home!! So weird...if we drilled a hole far enough we'd get home, but just see the bottom of peoples feet! (it turns out...

Voici le resume de notre 10 dernieres journees de voyage sur l'Ile du Sud de la Nouvelle-Zelande. Notre periple s'est poursuivit a Queenstown. Notre arrivee dans cette ville assez populaire fut plus penible car, nous n'avions pas reserve d'auberge. Nous avons du chercher 3 lits pendant pres de 2h. Apres un dizaine de reponse "nous sommes complet...

Well I arrived in Wellington last night after a gruelling 6 hour coach journey from National Park that did little to soothe my aching limbs after my mountain exploits on Tuesday. But anyway in true Barmy Army style I dumped my bags on arrival and hit the town, getting in at a fairly respectable 2am. I was then up bright and early this morning to...

Well the cricket is good, the beer is flowing and there has been plenty of singing, silly outfits and banter. I have also been stood in a large Brummie contingent all week, which unfortunately does include some of our Small Heath cousins. But its been good banter all week and our poor Chelsea fan, Keith is still getting the occasional reminder o...

Right guys, first of all I'd like to offer my apologies for my neglect of this blog over the last couple of weeks. However there is an extremely good reason for this and any of you who have ever been on a cricket tour or even to a day of test match cricket will guess why. Firstly cricket takes up your whole day and then your evenings are consume...

My god, 2 updates in 2 days!!! Well as you can see from todays pictutres, the weather's been so bad that I've had to spend some time indoors on the internet!!! Hahahaha!!! Well today I got up early at about half 11 and wondered up Mt Victoria to take some pretty impressive photos of the city of Wellington and its surroundings. There's even some ...

Entry 20 of a trip titled: Our big round the world adventure

hello

Hey everyone Hope you are all well? I'm currently in Wellington where I have been for the past 6 days, and I'm getting the ferry over to the South Island early tomorrow morning for my last 4 weeks in NZ. I can't believe I have finished in the North Island already, the last 5 or so weeks have flown past. Time flies when you're having fun! I left ...

Entry 4 of a trip titled: Three Creekside Restaurant employees leave Canada for New Zealand in an effort to reclaim lost summers.

If you have ever visited the summer playground of Scotch Creek, British Columbia, Canada you have likely visited the Creekside Restaurant. Were, no doubt you been treated to otherworldly dining experience. Meet Jesse Flaata, Jason Kelley and Wes Rotluff, these highly trained and talented constructors of culinary delight have practical been born and raised in the kitchen of the Creekside. These tireless champions of comestibles have spent many summer days preparing succulent dishes for the hoards of ravenous vacationers. Now the tables have turned and the boys are on the loose! New Zealand and it's diversified landscape, endless thrills and unique vibrant culture is their target.