Happy Christmas everyone! I'm in Nelson at the moment (top of South Island), where the sun is shining & it's nice and hot. Barbecued steak for Christmas dinner tomorrow on the beach!

Wow - where to start?!

It's been quite a while since I wrote anything in this blog - I guess it's time now that I've left Stewart Island & am travelling elsewhere...

I had a great time on the island - it really is a beautiful place (check out the photos I've uploaded). Such a shame that the weather was pretty crap the whole time I was there.  We even had snow showers one day in late Spring! Thankfully I didn't let it get to me all that much & accomplished tonnes of things I wanted to do. 

I'm not sure where to begin to be honest & will probably miss out a fair few things. I guess Ulva Island would be a highlight - it's a wildlife sanctuary that is predator free (no stoats, no possums, no rats etc.), so the birdlife there is pretty amazing.  Tonnes of inquisitive weka (flightless bird that a lot of people mistake for the kiwi), parakeets, kaka, saddlebacks etc etc etc.  Got a lift out to the island a few times on the local water taxis & was intrigued each time..

I was pretty lucky to get the opportunity to go kayaking in the bay too (thanks Liz & Lucy!).  The very first time was pretty interesting as my powers of balance weren't the best & I was fortunate not to tip over.  Despite the early nerves, got brilliant weather & saw lots of little blue penguins in the waves & shags on the rocks. 

Went to Mason Bay with Brossie when he visited (a tear still comes to the eye when I think of bidding him farewell...) - had amazing weather for the walk out to the beach where we saw a grand total of one kiwi (Brossie saw its arse) & a possum which I was tempted to kick (non native animals that destroy tonnes of bush in New Zealand & as far as I know kill baby kiwis too).  I was pretty sick wich food poisoning (which turned out to be something called compila bacta), so Brossie did the noble thing and carried all our stuff for the 4 hour hike in & out.  Thanks man!

As well as all of the above, I got a chance to go on a touristy kiwi-spotting tour on Ocean Beach.  Well worth the spend - we spotted four different creatures, one of which sniffed my foot (actually followed me at the back of the group & banged his long beak against my shoe - was such a good experience).  I've put up a few photos which are quite blurry owing to the lack of a flash.  You can just about make out their shapes if you look closely..

Hmm - what else??... Got to know some really interesting locals & others from all over. Got to learn some Poi moves (thanks Stacey!) & even got the drunken opportunity to do the fire version.  Thankfully I didn't do much damage to myself or anyone else. 

Work was ok too - was a waiter in the South Sea Hotel & worked tonnes which allowed me to save up a bit for another road-trip (which I'm on now).  The hotel crew were all cool & had a lot of fun with everyone.  Maybe some day I'll pay another visit before I'm booted out of the country!

Had an awesome leaving party just before I departed the island - lots of drink & fire involved in the Hurley House..

That's about it I think (well probably not actually..).

Travelling up the East coast at the moment - started off with the Catlins down South & made my way up through Dunedin, then Christchurch (Banks Penninsula - what a beautiful place) & now am in Kaikoura (getting sizzled by the sun & attacked by seagulls & seals protecting their young..)  Hopefully will go whalespotting tomorrow.