What happened?

Finished working in Auckland, then travelled to Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. Arrived home back home the end of last year.

View

Have a job, an apartment, went to Queenstown for my birthday and am going to start sailing lessons in a couple of weeks. Probably more to say than that but can't be bothered to type more, sorry. The above picture is the view from my balcony.

Visa Extended :-)

My NZ work visa has been extended today :-)

Was a bit worried as it seemed to be taking a while and they had to arrange interim visa, pleased it was not needed in the end. Going to collect my passport tomorrow lunch time.

More Auckland snaps

Just uploaded a few pictures from around Auckland. Took all the boaty ones this morning at the viaduct. Anyway, passed my visa medical and currently waiting to hear about the visa extension, hopefully get my passport back this week. Been doing some IT contract work at Auckland Council, its ok, nothing too exciting.

Auckland

Went for a walk in the park today and visited the hot houses, took a really nice picture of the whole greenhouse in flower but for some reason my phone camera did not save the file properly. So instead here is a pretty dull picture showing where I am staying at the moment, i'm on the 4th floor of the boring grey building in the centre right.

Auckland

Arrived back in Auckland yesterday, am a little jet lagged but not too bad considering. Walked up Mount Eden this morning, had been there before 4 years ago but took a bus that time. Anyway, took this picture showing the crater and a view over Auckland.

short post

Been home the last few months, off in a week or so. Leaving the UK as weather is good to go to winter in NZ, not planning these things right, oh well.

Thought i'd put a nice photo up as this page is bit dull. Took this a couple of weeks ago down in the valley.

More photos being uploaded.

In Queenstwon at the mo, off to Dunedin on Thursday (to look for penguins) then back to Christchurch on Sunday.

a few more

just uploaded a few more photos, again use the link in the post below.

lots of posts and no photos

Just realised I did no posts in October at all and then today (november) I did 3 so thought i'd do one more and make it 4 :-)

oh and my flickr account has expired so although I have uploaded all the photos I dont think you can see all of them and they will not show in the right place, click here to see some of them.

Photos

Just uploading some photos, not done a final sort of them so some might be a bit rubbish.

A month in Christchuch

Well, since those emails I have mainly been busy working in Christchurch (roadtrip distance was 4000km in the end). After a few days I started doing temp admin work for the Earthquake Commission, nothing too complicated just putting stickers on things, filing and a bit of data entry, its quite good as usually work from 8:30 - 6pm so getting the hours in. Drove over to Akaroa one weekend which was nice, still one of my favourite places in New Zealand.

Earthquakes are a regular occurrence, kind of get nervous when there is not one, 5.0 is still the highest I have experienced but had a few of them now. First couple of weeks we usually had a 4.x most days but seems to be less frequent now (though we had a 4.9 yesterday). On saturday I went to the horse races, it was the big cup day for Christchurch, really did not know what was going on but was quite good fun, lost $5 betting on a horse and $10 from my pocket :-(

Not definate, but probably leaving this week, probably head north a bit to the Marlborough Sounds.

Will try and sort my photos out over the next couple of days.

Bit of an update

Been a bit rubbish updating this, just looked back at a few emails and thought i'd post them here.

9th October

Been busy the last few weeks driving

around North Island, been great fun, drove 3600km so far. Arrived in

Wellington yesterday and will go to south island on the 8am ferry

tomorrow morning. Managed to travel quite cheaply as been staying in

free or cheap DOC (department of conservation) campsites. One

campsite site in the far north was even looked after by a couple of

volunteers and they gave is free fresh fish every day and free kayaks,

was great, should have stayed there longer. Journey was basiccally

around Northland, The Coromandel and then down the west coast, saw

lots of stuff I missed last time. Was really nice driving everywhere,

managed to find loads of gravel roads through big rain forest valleys.

Going to see if we can find a couple of weeks work in Blenheim

tomorrow.

14th October

Had a nice road trip the last few weeks. Was going to look for work

in Blenheim but nothing is happening there for a another couple of

weeks so spent the last couple of days in Hamner Springs in the

mountains (they were snowy!) and managed to get free entry into one of

the thermal spas as Emily had a friend who works there. Now in

Christchurch for a couple of days but not sue where next, maybe have

another go at Blenheim but will see. Not sure if I want to feel an

earthquake or not, could be exciting, know they had a 5.0 aftershock

a couple of weeks ago.

14th October part2

Just had a little earthquake, lasted about 20 seconds but was really

gentle no idea how high on the scale, imagine tiny, quite odd feeling

though.

14th October part3

just checked, apparently it was 5.0 at 4.42pm, always thought 5 was

quite high, but did not feel bad at all.

info here

http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/recent_quakes.html

Back in Auckland

Did not see a Kiwi bird on Aroha but had a nice time bumbling around the woods in the dark trying to find one. Taupo Bay was also nice and generally not working has been great over the last week or so. Arrived back in Auckland yesterday, had my first Burger King in 3 monhts :-) . Anyway, I bought a tent today for $70 (reduced from $150). Going to go and camp Hekerua Lodge on Waiheke Island tomorrow. Its also a hostel so if I dont like camping or weather is rubbish i'll upgrade to a dorm. Think its going to rain a bit tomorrow night so fingers crossed my cheapo tent will be up to the job, wish me luck!

More Travels

Finished working for Orangewood on thursday, 10 weeks after I started in the Kiwi fruit business. Yesterday got lots done, hair cut, bought and fitted battery for Emilys car and made lemon cream pie :-) . I'm still in Kerikeri at the moment but the following are my plans for the next week.

Tonight i'm going to stay in a cottage/hut and look for Kiwi birds at a place called Aroha Island . Monday i'm going to stay in Paihia and maybe Russel until Thursday/Friday and for the weekend am staying in another cottage/hut in a place called Taupo Bay. Then will probably be off to Auckland a week on monday and hopefully will explore some of the islands in the gulf.

NZ Photos

Mainly been working since arriving in New Zealand, but uploaded a few pictures from the weekend trips. See link on the right.

Managed to save some money so planning on leaving Kerikeri in a week for more travelingness :-)

Oz Photos

Just uploading some Australia photos, all taken heading north after the town of 1770. Use the link on the right.

Thought i'd upload one quick picture. This was one of the views from a lookout near Opito Bay.

Quick post :-)

Just a quick post to say i'm alive and well and currently staying in a nice little town called Kerikeri in Northland. Been here about a month and have been working in a Kiwi Fruit packing shed, done tons of hours so earned quite a bit despite the poor hourly rate. On friday I had a new job working on a government run kiwi fruit research farm (though contracted through same employer as before), just doing some easy pruning on saplings planted in February, really easy stuff and no massive pressure (as its a government job and everyone is pretty relaxed). Plans keep changing but will probably stay around whilst work is easily available then go on a bit more of a road trip. Seen some nice places here on weekends, recently went to beautiful place called Opito Bay and saw stunning views over the Bay of Islands. Today went to some hot springs (entry cost $4!), which was really nice and relaxing but a bit smelly (think I still stink despite having a shower already).

Would like to upload some pictures but mobile broadband is kinda pricy here so might have to wait a bit. Still have tons from Oz to upload, will try and sort through them then perhaps upload when I finish working.

Everything sorted(ish) and going on Road Trip :-)

Sorted my bank, IRD (tax number) and sim cards for phone and internet. My IRD is going to take a couple of weeks but can find that out later over the phone. Found a bank called ASB that has no monthly charge and gave me a cashcard/eftpos within 30min of walking in the branch which is really good. Went on the ferry over to Devonport today and ate fish and chips on the beach. Emily has a car so going to go on a mini road trip up to Northland tomorrow which should be fun!!