I left Paihia on 17th February, and went for a weekend visit to the Pattersons. It was such a weird feeling, when I got into Taranaki it felt like I was going home. When I got to the Pattersons it was like I never left, I love them so much :)
It was a flying visit, and I left on the Monday. I got to Auckland Monday night and I started my Stray bus tour on Tuesday Morning.
So far I have been to a tonne of places, and I am loving it!! I was abit unsure at first, moving on every day, knowing no-one etc, but I completely, totally love it.
I have been to Thames, Hot Water Beach, Hahei, Paeroa, Raglan, Waitomo, Maketu, Rotorua, Taupo, Whakahoro, Tongariro, Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Abel Tasman, Cape Foulwind, Pancake Rocks, Greymouth, Hokitika, Franz Joseph, Haast, Makarora, Wanaka and I am currently in Queenstown, about halfway done on my trip :)
I have been caving and seen the glow worms, hiked a glacier, went on a lot of bush walks, seen some of the Lord of the Rings filming areas, partied in the Capital, saw a seal colony, enjoyed a traditional Maori night, hiked lots of mountains, corrupted a young American and laughed so hard I cried ... I have done so much I can't even remember!
I am blown away by the beauty here on a daily basis, I love it here so much.
The South Island is sparse and big, very different to the North.
On the Stray bus there are a lot of awesome people, but I have made really good friends with a Canadian girl called Lizz and a Swedish girl called Evelina ... I love them.
I have enjoyed Queenstown, and I will definitely come and live here with Emily when I get back from Thailand.
New Zealand, you have my heart!
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| Cape Foulwind |
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| Cathedral Cove |
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| Caving at Waitomo |
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| Inside the Franz Joseph Glacier |
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| Mount Doom! |
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| Paeroa |
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| Pancake Rocks |
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| Maori Cultural Night, with Uncle Boy |
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| Thermal mud pool, Rotorua |
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| Tongariro |
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| Wellington |
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| Whakahoro |
