New Zealand is a place where my sister spent a lot of time (mainly because she broke her ankle and couldn’t leave) and also a place one of my best friends Lottie fell in love with. After hearing lots of stories and trying to envisage this picture perfect land it feels surreal to finally be here.

I have to say the rolling meadows and ridiculous amount of sheep do make me feel at home.

One thing that is unlike home though is the beaches (no offence Barry). I found this one at Cathedral Cove particularly lovely. It was a crisp day with a salty sea breeze and after an hour’s walk through the shady winding tracks we warmed our cockles on this sun drenched stretch. 

I adore this rock, it has one hell of a waist line. 

Later, we visited Hot Water Beach where at low tide you can dig holes down into the hot springs that lay beneath the sand. We hired a spade and gave it a go before we realised that we were digging in the wrong spot so we just jumped in somebody else’s.

We ended our day with Oysters and Moscato as backpackers do.