Two nights safely spent in Christchurch, three nights, four...still I haven't felt a single quake or aftershock. I'm not sure if I'm more relieved or disappointed by this. Obviously I don't want to be in a devastating earthquake anymore than I wish such terrifying aftershocks and damage on the already frayed nerves of Cantabrians. But a small part of me would like to feel the ground move beneath my feet - just enough to get the adrenalin pumping like on a big rollercoaster ride, not enough for the hostel I'm in to fall down on my head. Once again I found myself with a few hours in Christchurch and ended up walking around the no-go zone that is the city centre. This time the sunshine was out and so were the tourists. Out of such devastation ... read more

From the moment I emerged from Christchurch Airport into the swirling drizzle and Antarctic winds of a late Spring afternoon I knew I was going to have to find myself somewhere with a better climate if I was going to stay in New Zealand long term. All evidence pointed towards Nelson, claiming to be the sunniest place in the country I wasted only a couple of days getting there. First though, some morbid part of me wanted to try and understand just what Christchurch had been through in the past year. I visited Christchurch six years ago. Jet lagged and freshly escaped from months of sitting behind a desk in the UK I was desperate for adrenelin-fuelled adventure, breathtaking scenery and the fresh air of the great outdoors - all the buzz words New Zealand promotes ... read more

It's amazing the contacts you make working in a pub, so it's not really any surprise that after a few weeks working at The Port I was invited to help out at a plantation owned by a couple who drink in the pub. It has to be said the 6am starts did not appeal, but I was bored of watching daytime tv all morning before starting at the pub at 1pm so I figured it would be a productive way to pass my time in sleepy Carnarvon and a good way to get some fresh air and exercise. When the air became as fresh as 7 degrees I had second thoughts about getting out of bed but the frosty air was combatted with every item of clothing I owned, a cup of tea and a camp ... read more

A couple of days recovering from my epic journey across Australia and I was ready to get out and see a bit more of this immense country. Unfortunately Perth did not woo me. After the bright lights, excitement and happy memories of Sydney, the most isolated capital in the world felt eerily quiet and uninspiring. I did get the train out to Freemantle one day, which I thought had a nicer vibe - and better looking cafes. But after visiting the markets and walking along the Swan River and up to King's Park I was happy to escape the cities. My stay in Perth had a been productive one and I left with a job offer at a pub in Carnarvon. Rather than shooting up there in one 12 hour stint on the Greyhound bus I ... read more

Anyone who has ever seen photos of Sydney, let alone visited this beautiful place, will know that it is a city with a close relationship to water. The never ending inlets and bays of Sydney Harbour are the playground of Sydneysiders, this is where they relax at a waterfront bar, exercise at beach bootcamps, catch supper, and even commute to work. And if the calm waters of the harbour are too sedate then Sydney residents and visitors transpose all these activities to the pounding waves of the Pacific Ocean. With this in mind - and as an honorary resident of Sydney for seven months - I took up the challenge to see as much of the harbour and Sydney coast as possible. With limited days off and abysmal fitness levels I admit I could have done ... read more