Hi all, added a map this time so you can see where I have been so far in Australia, plus also added some pickies Yuka who I met on the train (last blog) sent me. After leaving Alice and catching The Ghan to Darwin I was met by Dennis and Mary at the station. Oh forgot to mention the Alice Springs hostel was evacuated at one in the morning on my last night there, when the fire alarm went off! Also the train stopped at Katherine on the way to Darwin, where we could go for a choice of short tours. I went on a canoeing trip where we were driven by bus from the train station to the gorge park and then canoed up the river to the main gorge and back again. Was very ... read more

G'day. I arrived in Melbourne early Sunday morning after the 12 hour overnight train from Sydney. Had some breakfast before walking to the hostel, only ten minutes away from the station. As I was early I had to leave my rucksack in the luggage room and went for a wander around Melbourne. Melbourne is the second largest city with approx 4 million people living there. I walked back to the train station first to book my next two trains, Melbourne to Adelaide and Adelaide to Alice Springs on The Ghan. I had decided two nights would be enough in Melbourne and one night in Adelaide, as I said before wanted to get to the Northern Territories before the worst of the wet season hits during November. I then wandered all over Melbourne walking down Flinders Street ... read more

Hi ya all, been off internet for two weeks as been living on a Pacific Island with no internet and little or no telephone signal. So this blog a bit longer than usual to cover the past two weeks, publishing it after arriving in Sydney today. Also apologies to not sending any birthday wishes, especially to my partner in crime Gibbo for the 7th and also for not thanking people for sending me birthday messages. Also found out after I left Fiji that there was a 6.2 earthquake day I arrived! Arrived at Fiji airport in Nandi on the 7th September, with no accommodation booked. When you arrive at the airport you are welcomed by some guys singing and playing the guitar, cool. Once through customs, immigration and picked up my bag I headed to a ... read more

Left you at last blog arriving at Wellington and spending a day there before heading across on the ferry to South Island. Added another map for the tour of the South Island and back to Picton. The following morning the sun was out again and we headed to the ferry port. The ferry ride was very scenic especially as you went through the flooded valleys through to Picton, took about 3 hours in total. We also saw dolphins and sealions swimming by the ferry. When arrived at Picton said goodbye to the girls, Sarah heading back home from Christchurch end of August, but said would meet up with Collette to go to Waitimo caves and Tongariro Alpine crossing trek. Then headed down towards Christchurch where i was going to meet up with Emma. Stopped enroute at ... read more

Hi all, added a map again so you can see the progress around the islands. Blog a bit later than usual, struggled with some of the internet connections at the campsite, am finishing this on Emmas mum Alison's laptop! After writing last blog stayed near Orewa beach, just north of Auckland for one night before heading south east towards Thames. I have been staying in the "proper" campsites as they only about ten pounds a night and means can plug in and have 240v to charge stuff and play music and the heater! Plus they have nice hot showers, laundry facilities, TV room, internet and kitchen to cook in. Orewa campsite was near the town so walked in and had a few pints of Guiness in an Irish bar then bought some fish and chips to ... read more