New Zealand Again!! South Island this time!

In the Dog House!! Megan, Me & Henrik.....all wearing silly hats!

Small Blue penguins.....how cute!

This was a storm room to demonstrate how cold it gets in Antartica.....bbbrrrrrr!!
I hid in the cave for some protection from the wind chill!

After my Hagglund Ride...this can ride in all terrains and what recent explorers use in the Antartic environment. So I was taken out on an exhilarating ride over mounds, up and over a steep hill, across a crevasse, speeding across open ground, and through pools of water! Great fun!

Christchurch...Cathedral Square...its very english look alike with nice arcitecture everywhere

Water Fountain that I liked!

Tram ride around the city to get my bearings on arrival, its a hop on and off tram but I just sat on it the whole way around to see the sights!

So I have left Oz and now in Kiwi Land again, I am really sad to leave everyone in OZ and had real mixed feelings about coming here and having to start travelling alone again etc

but I know I love this place too and will soon meet some new friends, I hope!

As I flew over Christchurch I could see the Alps covered in snow and it was really exciting after being in the sun for so long, it was quite a contrast.

On arrival as you can see I did the tourist bit and hopped on a tram and a general look around the place. I booked myself a single room for the night as I wanted a good sleep and couldnt face a dorm room at the time...it was heaven but it was freezing even with an electric blanket...feels so weird to get out of bed and shiver...not done that for a long time!

Next day was an action packed day, I visited the International Antartic Centre as you can see, it was an interesting few hours learning all about the research/work/people in the North & South Pole and also appreciating what conditions they have to cope with!

Whilst there I got chatting to Rob from Cambridge so we decided to go "Punting on the Avon". There was actually nobody else doing this which should have given us a clue not to bother! But I was keen to do it and Rob has actually done the punting before himself living in Cambridge. Anyway it was so disappointing, no real views to look at all...Rob has said I must do it when I get back home and then I will know the difference!

Then we headed to some Art Galleries for a bit of culture...well actually to get warm again! Some of the pieces were beyond me...looked like something a 2 year old could have done!

Next day I started my trip alone around the South Island on the Magic Bus Tour heading towards Greymouth, so I travelled trans pennine from the east to the west coast and saw some amazing scenery and I now know what people mean about the South Island being so beautiful!

I met 2 guys on the bus Dave from Dorset & Henrik from Sweden who are so funny and we plan to stick together as the 3 musketeers for a week or so.

Arrived at Greymouth and there really isnt anything to do at all, so we just chilled at the hostel and watched a couple of movies ready to move on the next day. The hostel was called Noahs Ark and all the rooms were animal themed......guess what I really wanted......the Monkey room , but unfortunately we couldnt use it and ended up in the Dog House! No literally we had the puppy room!