Auckland

Left Laura and Lucy, which was emotional, and flew overnight to New Zealand arriving at 7am and checking into a random hostel. I booked this from Oz and it was rather run down to the extent that in the bathroom you had to locate the toilet seat, place it on the toilet and balance. Ridiculous. Also they had their own misgivings about shoes and we were obliged to leave them outside. (Actually I ignored this rule and was never caught). Another shared dorm, this time with a man who lay on the floor doing yoga each morning while we walked around him - Luce and Laura feel I am overly critical of the men we've met so I'll avoid the observations that spring to mind. There were several other girls in the dorm with me, fortunatly.

Spent two days in Auckland, pretty typical sprawling city but surrounded by water. Very happily did all the boring things: museums, Da Vinci machines exhibition, botanical gardens and walked miles. It was rather cold and damp after Australia. My lovely tan will have faded away by the time I fly home.