We last updated you about New Zealand, but, we’ve moved on and have been in Australia for over 3 weeks. We first arrived in Sydney and spent nearly 2 weeks with Nick’s Auntie Jeanne and family. Being so far away we’d only met a couple of times before and it was great to get to know them better. They really looked after us and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. Thanks very much guys! We did the usual sights around Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Harbor Bridge, opera house, botanical gardens, Cook’s landing at Botany Bay, Bondi Beach and the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Our last update was from Taupo on NZ's North Island which is a centre for adventure activities. Spolt for choice Nick did a bungy jump over the Taupo river, 47m high, plunging head first up to his waist into cold water below. It was over in a flash but he loved it! He now has the T-shirt to prove it (it's possibly the most trendy piece of clothing he has on tour). We then drove south east to Napier, a lovely little town rebuilt in the 1930's after an earthquake, and many of the buildings retain the art deco features. The [View Full Entry]

---

---

We've been in New Zealand over two weeks so it's about time we told you what we've been up to. We arrived in Auckland on the 12th and stayed a few nights in a fantastic hostel. It was initially built for the Queen of Tonga and so it was very posh (for a backpacker's hostel). We then collected our motor home and we've since been driving around the North Island. We first made our way to the very northern tip, to Cape Rienga, where it was wild, rugged and very beautiful. It used to be a manned lighthouse and it must [View Full Entry]

---

---

I know we've given you a summary of the Cook Islands but we need to give you a further update..... We mentioned that there were gazzillions of wild chickens and roosters roaming the Island and then we found out that it's OK to eat them, but you have to catch them first. Well that was it, the hostel went on a mission. 2 guys in particular (Sean and Gareth) set off on the motor bike armed with stale bread, a big knife and some rocks. They returned 2 hours later chickenless and fed up. They persisted though and it was hillarious [View Full Entry]

---

---

So we got here Monday morning after a 10 hour red eye flight from LA. We're staying at the International Backpackers and the bunch there are more friendly than in America. We thought we'd walk into town to get our bearings only to find, 2.5 hours later, that it was a bank holiday and everywhere was closed! The Cook Island is a small, sleepy tropical Island in the South Pacific. The Islanders are friendly but there are a gazzillion roosters roaming the place who all like to enter a 'who has the loudest cock-a-doodle-doo competion' at about 6am every morning (and [View Full Entry]

---

---

Arrived in L.A on wednesday afternoon, feeling tired after a long but ok flight. Staying at the Venice Beach Cotel, first impression was how hot it got as we went higher up the stairs; we were staying on the 3rd floor. Room itself ok, bathrooms shared but clean enough. L.A., particularly Venice Beach, is full of extremes. Filthy rich and destitute, calm spaced out hippies and impatient frantic need it now yanks. We went to a recording of 'Deal or no deal' and it was surreal! It was hard to believe it was a real person playing a real game. The [View Full Entry]

---

---

A night out at Bella Roma with work colleagues and some very funny moments! Thanks to all who came along and thanks for the gifts. I especially loved the Whizz!! [View Full Entry]

---

---

Nick and Jen have a few well behaved leaving drinks in town... [View Full Entry]

---

---

Still loads more to do! No packing done yet and no plans to do it yet, when it will be done who knows! Any one fancy helping to pack two rucksacks your more than welcome!!! [View Full Entry]

---

---

test nessage to see if it works... [View Full Entry]

---

---