I am now in NZ! My last day in Australia was spent in the Blue Mountains which were spectacular. They are called blue due to the gas released by the eucalyptus trees which creates a blue haze. I just got a local train up there and walked to Echo Point, saw the Three Sisters and walked around the cliff top past waterfalls and general nice views! It was a lovely day and I enjoyed myself until the train back which was meant to be direct to Central Sydney but suddenly stopped and loads of people got on at a random town and informed me it was in fact now going back the way it had come - chaos ensued but I made it back in time to do the pub quiz with Polly but this went on so long we kind of lost interest. I overslept and missed my 5.10am shuttle to the airport but managed to get a taxi there with three other people who also missed it! Made the flight OK and had three seats to myself so I just slept. Got to Christchurch where it was raining so thought I would be sensible and meet people at the hostel and have a few beers. We went to the bar as we got given free drinks then to a reggae night with some French people which was interesting. The next day I went the the Arts Centre, more specifically The Fudge Cottage where I sampled everything, and Rutherford's Den (as in the guy who split the atom). He went to Uni in Christchurch and this is where he did all his early work. I found it interesting! Then I went to the museum which was good if a little random - maori exhibits, then stuffed birds, an antartic exhibition, an old street, British pottery, Asian art, very random. I looked round the Botanical Gardens which were really nice then the Art Gallery which was pretty rubbish before finding a second hand shop in order to buy winter clothes as it is freezing here! Just spent the evening watching bad films in the TV room with a girl I met originally in Surfers Paradise and two guys I met in the museum as they were climbing through an exhibit meant for kids.

Next day was first day on Kiwi Experience bus and we headed to Kaikoura, a beatiful town on the coast surrounded by mountains. I went out to swim with dolphins - this was incredible. There were dolphins everywhere and one kept swimming with me and jumping up in front. I was having so much fun I didn't notice my hands and feet turning blue and numb. Got pretty wet walking back and also hailed on which wasn't much fun but the hostel was lovely and had a big log fire so it was nice and cosy. Next day we headed to Nelson, stopping in Picton for some people to head north on the ferry and we picked up people going south. Had a fantastic burger for lunch! Got to Nelson and the hostel is again really nice. They did a free beer tasting session for us! (We stopped at a winery earlier on and had free wine tasting so people were already a little merry). We spent the evening in the bar before heading to a pub for a $12 4 pint plus one shot megadeal which we took full advantage of. Unfortunately the buses are really busy so all the people I had met left the next day but I actually want to see more of NZ than just from a bus so I stayed. Spent Sunday having a lazy day around Nelson (and a nice $15 three course roast dinner) then on Monday I visited the Abel Tasman National Park which was fantastic. It was spectacular scenery and I did a 4 hour walk after getting a water taxi up the coast which took us to the split apple rock and a seal colony. After a minor incident where me and my friend nearly got stuck in sinking sand we made it back to the aqua taxi and Nelson. Leaving here tomorrow for Westport via Nelson Lakes then the Pancake Rocks. I love NZ - it is a Geography nerds dream!!

Photo update! I gave up with this site as it was soooooo slow so they are on Facebook but these links below should be public links. Please let me know if you can't view them.

Japan 1 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241924&l=86ab1&id=61410081

Japan 2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241928&l=10433&id=61410081

Japan 3 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241934&l=3532d&id=61410081

Japan 4 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2242235&l=59cf9&id=61410081

Japan 5 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2242240&l=9266a&id=61410081

Japan 6 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2242246&l=f9612&id=61410081

Japan 7 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2242251&l=f714b&id=61410081

Australia 1 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241853&l=8059c&id=61410081

Australia 2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241856&l=e9b25&id=61410081

Australia 3 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241858&l=e07d0&id=61410081

Australia 4 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241859&l=14efd&id=61410081

Australia 5 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241911&l=cd65d&id=61410081

Australia 6 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2241923&l=d2e9a&id=61410081