After a very drunken end of season party, we did a whirlwind tour of the rest of the South Island and as you can imagine it was very beautiful!

Yes - you read right. My wonderful time in New Zealand is coming to an end and I will be returning home to Scotland within the next month.

Halfway through the kiwi picking season, we got a very welcome ( and rare) 3 days off over the weekend so Tiago and I took off to the South Islands only thermal resort and then the South's biggest city.

Ah, what we do for a dollar! Yes, 2 months have passed and still we are picking fruit and living in the middle of nowhere. This time around it's kiwi fruit, which we were promised was easier than apples - oh, how they lie!

OH MY GOD! Hardest job in the world!

Yes, at last, some photos. Only a very small selection but hope you all enjoy them anyway. Just copy and paste this link to take you there.

www.tripnz.cjb.net

Woohoo, we made it - we've arrived in the South Island!

Drunk, drunk, drunk......St Patricks day somewhere in amongst it all......drunk, drunk!

Well, everything has changed about here. Have seen loads more of the North Island since I last wrote but also have a new car and travlling mate!

We've been staying at a lodge in a place called Whakamaru ('Fakamaru', kiwis pronounce 'wh' as an f sound) as part of a help exchange. www.helpx.net is a website where hosts can advertise for helpers - the work is varied and in return hosts offer free accomodation and sometimes meals as well. Very handy for the budget traveller!