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Well...what can I say we are here. After 23 hours, locked securely in a Boeing 747 along with a couple of hundred other mortals, it is with some relief I write my first blog on New Zealand soil.

The journey was long, and though the stop-over in Hong Kong was a welcome release, it prolonged the journey a good few hours and meant that we arrived at Auckland International well and trully frazzled.

I do though have to give Air New Zealand a massive thumbs up! Having not travelled with them before I was simply amazed at the entertainment package we were afforded (Richie broke his on the first leg and had to flirt at length with a male member of the cabin staff to get it fixed!) and also the food. Really was good - we even got our first taster of New Zealand lamb. Lovely!

Yesterday evening and this morning was spent in the harbour area of the city. It feels rather strange that such a relatively large city can be so relaxed and free of the "hussle and bussle" you associate with cities back home: no one seems to be rushing around like a "t*t in a trance" and there seems to be an alarming lack of queues and traffic build-up even at peak times. This also seems to be the place where my fellow compatriots seem to congregate, and you cannot go far without hearing an English accent. As wer're relatively newcomers to this city and country it is oddly reassuring.

Today, has been like yesterday, in that we have spent most of it doing the "tourist thing". Richie bullied me in accompanying him upto the top of the Sky Tower (well nearly, to the top!) yesterday. It afforded some great views of the city and I tried out the digi camera for the first time on the trip.

We walked to the Auckland Museum this morning. This Greco-Roman building sits on a hill opposite Albert Pack and you are immediatly struck by how impressive archictecture is. The exhibits inside seem to mirror this, especially the Armed conflict areas called "Scars of the Heart 1 and 2". Like my travelling companion said, this country does not shy away from its folly and mistakes in history and there seems to be an honesty to the both written and verbal commentarys.

Well should really go. Its 2.40pm and Richie is cajouling me into buying him his first beer of the day!!

Hope everyone is well. Tony G, have noted previous comment, thanks for that.

Hi to mum and dad - both sets!

Well done to John O'Shea (Richie again!) as he made his day!

Kat, for some reason cannot log-in to English version of Hotmail. Will e-mail soon.

Take care

Richie and Steve

Ooh its getting close now! In just under forty eight hours our epic journey will begin, and Richie and I finally board our flight to New Zealand and the North-Island city of Auckland.

I'm actually not sure how long its going to take us, nor the amount of miles we're going to rack up getting there. Needless to say we'll have the chance to look down on quite a few contries from our lofty pirch in the sky.

Typically the last few days have been dominated by packing and other bits of vital "prep". Making sure that you have an abundance of good clean underwear should be high on anyones list; though I find myself concentrating instead on copying en mass most of my cd collection, thus making sure we have enough quality "tunes" for the rental-car as we drive around the country. Yes, you make look a little puzzled at this, but if you understood my travelling companion's rather "electic" taste in music you would applaud my foresight. I mean, come on, what impression will we make when we rock up and the locals are greeted by "Gimme...Gimme.. a man after midnight" by that well known Swedish foursome. Quite!!

Anyway I digress. My luggage of choice for this trip is a rather large hold-all (apologies for spelling!), courtesy of the bank of mum and dad. Little concerned though as its pretty full already, and judging by the state of my bedroom floor, I still have a fair bit to pack.

I have been advised to pack for "all weathers" (love that term) as the New Zealand can be a little unpredictable so I'm told. Ha! This must be the first trip I've done where my vest tops are sharing space with my base layers and fleece. But prepared I certainly am, and whatever I've forgotten or left behind (still not sure about a towel: it takes up so much space!) I will buy out there.

Well I suppose I've written enough for a first entry and the next time I write we'll be there.

Speak soon

Steve x