Well my first month here hasn't been too exciting, mainly because i've been stuck in Wellington for the last 2 weeks trying to rest my knee (an old, extremely painful injury that has flared up after hiking in Taupo), so have just tried to sort out a job and done some gentle sighseeing - waterfront, botanical gardens, museum (including the lord of the rings exhibition) and did mount Victoria the other day as i thought my knee was a lot better, however, as i was coming down the mountain realised i was wrong, so had to rest it for another 2 days!! to make matters worse, i forgot to take my camera with me!! duh!!

Did have a bit of excitement this week as I had lost my passport, but luckily found it at the police station, somehow i had managed to drop it in the street. so so so very lucky!! I was really annoyed with myself cos i'm not usually a careless person!! Have also been keeping in touch with the world cup, makes it a bit more interesting here as we have various nationalities at the hostel and i just tag along with whoever is going to the pub if the mood takes me! this could be a group of eng, argentinians, germans, italians or japanese - take your pick!!

My first 2 weeks were spent with Haydz, who lives up near Auckland, but kinda in the middle of nowhere, his work is just down the road, a mountain bike park in a forest and there's a beach about 10mins away with black sand and big waves! I did a bit of biking myself, but i am incredibly wobbly, also helped out a bit with maintenance, great to get my hands dirty again!! Also managed to get a horse ride in with the wife of haydn's boss, through some of the forest!

After that I took a week to get down to Wellington. Spent a night in Hamilton with Haydz parents, then a couple of nights in Rotorua, a very smelly place!! Then a few nights in Taupo, which is gorgeous and would love to go back there soon! I went on a 6hr walk which triggered off the knee injury, then the next day did an 8hr hike of the Tongariro crossing - this just finished the knee off!! The crossing was absolutly beautiful, walking over moutains with snow capped peaks and over steaming volcanic rock!! When i actuallty find a computer that will let me, i will download the photos!!

All, for now, you may not hear from me for a good while as i could be in the middle of no where working on a farm for the next 5 months!!