Our best friends Rob, Kay, Amy and Max met us at the airport.
It was really good to see them again.
We went back to their house to explore, chat, watch videos and eat before falling asleep.
The next day Rob and Kay had arranged a special trip for us - we were going to swim with the dolphins out at sea and see the seal colony on the beach.
Robs friend Neil lent us his truck so we all jumped in and set off for Kaikoura.
Rob had arranged for us to stay in a huge house owned by his diving club.
We were the only people there and we had great fun running around all the different rooms.
The next morning we got up at 5 a.m. and drove down to the sea front.
We went to a shop and borrowed some wetsuits, masks, flippers and snorkels then it was off to find the boat and we set out to sea.
The man on the boat said it might take up to two hours to find any dolphins but within 5 mins we had found some and were in the water swimming with them.
It was very cold but being with hundreds of dolphins in the sea made you forget the cold.
After a couple of hours playing with them we all got back on the boat and had hot showers and hot chocolate.
As we sailed back to land the dolphins were leaping and swimming around the boat. It was amazing.
We then visited the seal sanctuary and walked around the seals that were sun-bathing on the rocks.
This was a fantastic day and there was so much to see and do in Kaikoura that we will have to return again the next time we visit New Zealand.
If you would like to learn more about Kaikoura and its marine life then
click here.
Then it was back into the trucks and off to Hanmer.
Kay had rented a pretty house in the mountains for us.
We went out for a meal and then went back to our house and straight to bed.
It was really hot because Dad and Rob lit a big fire.
Amy got told off for FARTING all night.
The next day was 19th April Amy's 13th birthday.
After watching Amy open her presents we were off pony-trecking in the mountains.
It was great fun and we all had to sing songs.
Our horses names were Jimmy, Piper, Codance, Apollo, Wishfull, Marathona, Viking and Amalaise.
Melanie's horse Marathona kicked Dad's horse Apollo and made it rear up and buck but Dad somehow managed to stay on.
After this Dad and Rob went off to have an adventure of their own and the rest of us went to Hanmer Springs, these are hot pools of water that smell of rotten eggs. We put on our swimming costumes and spent a couple of hours messing around in the pools in the rain.
Dad and Rob met us at the Springs and told us of their adventure in a jet boat along the river.
Dad and Rob had seen a Jet Boat in a gorge and had decided to explore it.
Dad got himself down to the riverbank and Rob helped him onto the boat.
The boat travelled at speeds of up to 75 mph narrowly missing the rock walls of the gorge.
Dad says that he wasn't frightened............but we think he was!
Then it was back to Christchurch.
We invited Neil, his wife Avon and their son Nathan to come round and we had a huge Chinese for our tea. - YUM!
The next day we decided to all slob out so we stayed in our P.J.s all day and watched videos, t.v and ate sweets.
The next day we went into Canterbury and had a look around the museum.
Then we had some chips and got on a tram and looked around the town, then it was back home for some Playstation and Deep Blue Sea.
Next day Mum and Kay went off for the day together so Dad and Rob looked after us.
We went to the swimming pool and played on the slides and diving boards then we walked along the beach and explored the pier.
That evening Nathan came round and we all watched a few films and played on the Playstation.
Today is Sunday 23rd April Melanie's 9th birthday.
After Mels had opened her presents we had an Easter-egg hunt in the garden in the rain, then we went bowling then went home and put on our best clothes and went out for a birthday tea to Valantinos.
We came home watched Mars Attacks and went to bed.
The next day Dad and Rob took us and Jake for a run in the park by the river.
Next we went rollerblading then it was back home for a huge roast dinner cooked by Mum and Kay.
We watched the first part of Sixth Sense but it was a bit frightening so we turned it off and watched the Simpsons instead.
Then it was off to bed for our final nights sleep in New Zealand.
Sunday 25th April - we woke early, watched some telly while Mum and Dad packed.
After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Kay, Amy, Max and Jake.
Rob drove us to the airport and we said goodbye to him.
Our 9 days in New Zealand had gone too quickly.
New Zealand was probably our favourite part of our whole round the world adventure.
Dad says that maybe we can return for Christmas and New Year 2002.
(If we start saving up now!!!)
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