Week off Day 2, Milford Sound

Yesterday, we took a bus tour to Milford Sound and a cruise once we arrived. It was an amazing place and well worth the visit, the coach also had a glass roof so we got a good view of everything. The cruise was especially good and we saw some fur seals and blue penguins in one of the coves.

I wanted to get a helicopter flight back to queenstown which would have given me a completely different view and would have landed on one of the glaciers. I couldn't do it though as the flight was fully booked, i was a bit gutted but it means that i can spend the $600 i saved on other things :)

When we arrived back in queenstown we hit the town.

Week Off Day 1, Queenstown

This week i get a break from work to explore and do what i want before going to OZ. We got dropped off by the volunteers in Queenstown and spent the day wandering around in the 26 degree heat which was a change from the cold and rain. We went up the gondola were we go a awesome view over Queenstown, and also had a few rides on the ludge.

We've got a few activities book and the bank balance is decreasing dramatically, its all good though. The bars in Queenstown are also very good, we've tried quite a few out.

Week 6, Southland

My last week of work. We spent last week at Sinclair wetlands and the weekend in the Catlins. Our last week was in Southland; on our way form Owaka to Southland, we made various stops on the way, many of which were waterfalls. One of the waterfalls was New Zealands very own Niagara falls. Not quite as good as the real thing.
We also visited nuget point in Okowa. Apparently you can see whales and penguins of the coast but sods law meant that we saw nothing but sea and seals.

This week we have been working in Waituna wetlands which in Maori, means WaterEel wetlands. We've spent most of the week planting trees, but have also been wading to catch some native fish in one of the rivers. We caught some trought, eel and fresh water cray fish. We've also been weeding and maintaining the footpaths around the wetlands. Our most inportant job this week was building a toilet in the wetlands for the 'Tourists'.

This week i have a week off and i'm spending the majority of my week in Queenstown. I've got alot of activities booked including one bungie jump. It's going to be a good week!

Week 5 (Otago/ Owaka)

This week we have been back in Sinclair wetlands. It was different from the last time we were down here, firstly because it had been hot an sunny all week as opose to heavy downpours and secondly, we did some very different work. We did all the usual stuff like planting and weeding, but this time, Johnny (the manager, who helped up out) took us to help with tailing some of his lambs, which was fun and also to slaughter some of his sheep. Only half of us went to do this because the other half of the group chickened out. I personall helped skin one of the sheep and we brought back the heart and liver for the rest of the volunteers, it didn't go down very well. Personally i didn't enjoy it either but i didn't let on.

We are travelling to Southland for next week and decided to stay for the weekend in the Catlins at Owaka. There is a beach right next to our accomodation but its a bit cold for swimming. We also went to Nugget Point today where you can supposidly see penguins and whales of the coast, we wern't so lucky, only managed to see some seals and got caught on the ridge in a hail storm. All in all, a good week. I think the warm weather is on its way.

Last day in Punakaiki

Last night was our official last night at the pub so we went a bit over the top on the drinks. We had a few games of pool and kept the pub open for a few more hours than normal.
As expected, we were unable to get out of bed for half of today, but when we did manage to get up we decided once again to go to the Truman track. When we were in the pub, Chippy (one of the locals) told us about a cave a few coves along the beach, with some maori aftifacts in them. It was a struggle to get there as we had to do some rock climbing, walk through some bush and sqeeze ourselfs in a few tight spots.To make it even more difficult we had to time it right so we wouldn't get stranded by the tide.

I was hoping to get an early night tonight because we have to get up at 6am tomorrow to go to Otago. That plan went out the window because there was a rugby league final on so naturally we had to go to the pub to watch it, anyway its a 12 hour drive tomorrow so there'll be chance to sleep in the minibus!