Checked out of our nice(ish) modern hostel and moved next door to a place called Queen Street Backpackers, not quite as modern or clean (we are in an 8 bed dorm and we are the only 2 females, so lets just say there are a few iffy smells in the room!) but it's only for 2 nights and its 6 dollars a night cheaper than the other place - all about the budget now! After making our packed lunches, we head out to scope the different travel options available. We are torn between taking another bus tour with a company called [View Full Entry]

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After treating ourselves to a lie in (well, till 9.30 anyway) we head out to discover Auckland. Through all the excitment of Australia and the damp and dullness of Fiji, we have not really researched NZ as well as we should have (whoopsies). I have managed to read up on the north but not much on the south, however Diane has talked to a few people and has been told that the South Island has a lot more to do and is prettier. We find an internet cafe and update our blogs (aren't we kind to you all!) and then go [View Full Entry]

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We both wake feeling slightly hungover, but after packing our bags we cheat and get a taxi to the airport (well it's only about 2 pound!) We arrive to find our flight has been delayed by 4 hours - not good when we've got an hangover (you think we would have learned by now) but at least we get a free meal. After wandering round the airport aimlessly, followed by a short nap on the waiting gate chairs (all dignity has now gone out the window) we can finally board our flight. At 10pm New Zealand time we touch down and [View Full Entry]

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After the best nights sleep I've had in the past week and another nice hot shower we decide to head out to Nadi town. We catch the local bus (an experince in itself, all the little children were staring at us because we were white - quite funny!) and after asking a local where the shops were he kindly escorts us into town. We find out he is actually an off duty police man and he tells us to watch our bags and only ask people wearing a uniform for advice. Its strange as even though the town does look a [View Full Entry]

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We wake for breakfast and even though it is still raining we are chuffed to find that the Manta Ray snorkelling trip is still on. We get our gear and head out on the little boat for the reef, Although we don't see any sharks, the reef here is fantastic and the best I've seen since the West Coast of Oz. I have even learned how to dive with my snorkel - check me out! We get back to the camp and after talking to some new arrivals are told that the reason there is so much rain is apparently it's [View Full Entry]

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After not such a bad night sleep (i tossed and turned a bit but managed to get about 3 hours) we discovered that on Sundays here in the islands no activities run as they are very devout catholic so its there holy day of rest. We are invited to go to mass with them, but we thankfully decline and instead get some snorkel gear and head out to the other side of the Island for Honeymoon beach. It's totally deserted so feels like our own and even the sun is shining - never thought I would see it here! The sea [View Full Entry]

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Thankfully I woke this morning in a much more positive mood and after breakfast consisting of pancakes and cake (yep, strange concoction) and having a short rest on an hammock (this is what it SHOULD have been all about) we get on the little speedboat to catch the large boat up to the next island of Naviti and to the Korovou resort. Someone must have been looking down on us as the rain held off until we had disembarked the boat and had landed on the island (we could tell we were in a more upper class resort this time as [View Full Entry]

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This morning definatley did not start on a positive note! Because of the constant rain the beds were damp when we got into them and as the hut doors are always open, there are loads of Gheco's (small lizards) that live on the celling. I don't really mind them as they eat the mosquito's, however they constantly make a funny little 'kissing' sound every time they have caught one which took a bit of getting used to. Plus when I was on my way to the bathroom before bed, Lucy was trying to point something out to me behind a door. [View Full Entry]

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So today we are collected at 7.15am and taken to the port ready for our boat ride over to our first Fiji Island - Kuata. On reading our Fiji book it says it's 'basic but the location and friendliness of the people more than make up for it', so we head off with our positive heads on, after all we are backpacking it! On the way to the harbour it starts to rain but then stops briefly whilst we board the boat. But then the heavens open and it feels like we are in the middle of a tropical storm - [View Full Entry]

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Not really much to report today. Checked out of our room, had a quick last wander before heading to the airport for our flight to FIJI!! The flight over wasn't too bad and on arrival we got a free transfer to our hostel. One thing that we do notice is the amount of Mosquito's there are here - lucky we packed our spray then! After checking in, we try to do some laudry whilst spending 4 hours updating our blog from Australia (oh well, it's worth it). Early night tonight as we are going on a tour of the islands tomorrow [View Full Entry]

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