It's CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Queenstown:: Friday 23 Dec - Monday 26 Dec

Christmas Eve Eve was pretty special, for a start, I was in an incredible mood, the sun was shining, I had eaten a nice breakfast and we were en route to Queenstown for four whole nights, which would be the first for our trip - I simply could not wait. Oh, and there was another thing called Christmas happening?!!

On our trip out of Wanaka, we stopped off a puzzleworld, which was brilliant, loads of different illusions, which properly messed with your head and we actually got some excellent photographs from them. Then, outside for a bit of maze action.. now, I'm not really into mazes, I don't get them - and true to form, I was in there for ages. It was just so annoying, finding all the coloured towers and then after all that, we needed to discover the exit.. harder than you think actually. It was also really hot, I hadn't applied suncream (fatal error) and I forgot to take my hayfever tablet (you can only imagine.. I was a picture).. so, it didn't go too well, but it was fun all the same.

Funny thing of the day, we went to 'Have a Shot', which, I honestly thought was Havershot, a town to visit, but no, it's a range for people to clay pigeon shoot or go on the driving range.. this provided me much amusement and I actually laughed out loud to myself when I realised I had misunderstood. I didn't do anything, apart from write postcards in the shade (I know, epic fail, but it was warm).

Alex went off to do the Nevis bungy jump, which is the highest in NZ and the rest of us checked into the best hostel we have stayed at all trip, Nomads Queenstown.. brilliant - staff and facilities.

Our night out included teapot cocktails, which is basically a cocktail in a teapot.. which I loved and I may even consider doing the same when I return to England - it's the future, especially if you don't like tea..

Saturday 24 Dec

I'm excited but positively ill.. been fighting a cold/cough going around for two weeks and it finally grabbed me and made me feel like complete death on the one weekend I needed to be well. But, anyhow.. not letting it get to me in the slightest, today was preparation for tomorrow.. So, food, alcohol and secret santa gifts needed to be purchased. After getting the food and drink and having a bite for lunch, operation secret santa began.

I found my gift quite early on and then after a wander, spotted a bead shop that I fancied a browse in - I then spent the next hour in there making crafty items as souvenirs for people.. it was ace, the girl in the shop was very helpful and I just sat there, forgetting about the cold and getting on with craft related items, which was amazing.

We all met in Starbucks after the shopping and I tried a gingerbread frap for the first time ever, which was pretty brilliant and everyone seemed pretty upbeat about the secret santa action.

Then, I frequented a Fergburger - the most immense burger I have ever tasted. I went with Sam and Claire and to be honest, we were pretty amazed by the whole experience. The burger was outstanding and the chips were brilliant. In conclusion, the best Christmas Eve dinner I've had in a long time. Superb.

The evening was spent chilling out, playing Christmas songs and having a fairly early night - unheard of for me, but I was ill and didn't want to ruin Christmas.

Sunday 25 Dec

Amy woke us up at the crack of dawn singing "It's Christmas everyone - wake up! Santa's been". Although I was pretty tired, it was lovely to be around people who were excited about the festive season and I can safely say that I haven't woken up pre-8am for Christmas morning in years - or do I intend to anytime soon.

As it turned out, Santa had indeed visited our room, with his elf and delivered us some treats in a stocking. Unlike previous years, my stocking today was in the form of a walking sock, which contained chocolate treats and a pack of playing cards, a pen and keyring. A lovely gesture by the staff at Nomads, who actually worked really hard to make sure we all had a great time of the year.

After a Christmas Day shower (Standard play and was pretty great), I put on my santa hat and party dress and made pancakes for breakfast - pretty tasty. Then we exchanged secret santa gifts - being honest, the gift I received was pretty brilliant actually, an Optimus Prime lego set, I was completely taken aback and so excited.

Christmas day Starbucks was in order, followed by lunch (Christmas sandwiches and salad, which we all prepared together), then the afternoon by the lake with a BBQ. It was weird sitting in the sun, but lovely at the same time, and we were all together, which was great.

Evening brought cheese board, reading and talking to friends and family in the UK, which was a particular highlight - a great substitution to a traditional family Christmas - it was a Kiwi Family Christmas!

Monday 26 Dec

A Boxing Day trip to Milford Sounds for the day - which wasn't originally on the itinerary, but a good choice because the weather could not have been better: the sun came out to say hello :)



Then it was back to Queenstown for our last night - would be wrong not to have a Fergburger, so we did and then prepared ourselves to leave the next morning - loads of packing to do, our room looked like our bags had exploded!