Hello New Zealand

So just after our last post we went on an amazing walking tour around Sydney that started at the Town Hall and ended with a great view of Circular Quay. We saw the shopping mall, financial end, Hyde Park and the food festival, the history of how the city was founded and developed, a fountain where a scene from the Matrix is filmed, The Rocks, the market, Oktoberfest and even and Arthur Stace 'Eternity' slab outside the cathedral. So now we're full of Sydney knowledge! Would recommend that tour to everyone visiting the city!
For dinner we walked back to the Hero's of Waterloo, listened to some live music then went for a walk over the bridge by night.
The whole city was a little freaky because of the masses of people dressed up for Halloween, we bumped into zombies all day!

Yesterday we got up early with our waterproofs at the ready for our trip to Manly because of the weather report and having seen lightning the night before.... however, whilst watching the surfers the sun came out and slowly fried us as we walked round to Shelly Beach and took in the beauty that Is Manly. Well worth a ferry trip and a burnt face however embarrassing.

On the ferry back we managed to make some plans to catch up with another trekker I met on the Southern Sun tour and Taz came to pick us up in the Rocks and drove us down to see Bondi beach. We came back and went over the other side of the bridge for dinner (which was awesome) then went for a walk round by Luna Park and had the best view of the bridge, opera house and city thanks to our Sydney-sider tour guide! Was horrible saying bye again but at least mums here to keep me company.
Right now shes leaning on the hard drive next to me falling asleep. We got up at 4am to shuttle to the airport and catch a 9am flight to Auckland, New Zealand. Our hostel is lovely and so was the dinner we found down the road. Wont get to see much of this city but its ok as we start the trek tomorrow morning!!

Anyway better get the mother to our oh so comfy beds...

Love you all

Josie & Kim xxx

Sydney and around

Saturday now and only a day and a half left until we fly to Auckland and start our NZ tour!

We met up with Kelly as planned on Thursday and went for a huge walk and lunch around the Botanical Gardens which were really beautiful. Mum went back to find some of our family from Oz and spent the afternoon with them at Darling Harbour while Kelly and I carried on walking, went to the Art Museum of New South Wales and then chatted over a hot chocolate in a cafe near Pitt St. We said goodbye about 6 and I met up with Mum, Yvonne, Sarah and her little boy Ethan who was really sweet! We all went for dinner at China Town, had a catch up and made some plans for when Sarah & Ethan come over to England in December. They arrive the week after we get home! So that made saying goodbye a bit easier.

Yesterday Mum and I were up (after another mammoth sleep) and waiting outside the hostel about 8am to be picked up for the Blue Mountains Tour. It was a huge day and they crammed in so much. We stopped at loads of beautiful view points, did the scenic air flight, cable car and train at the Blue Mountains, saw an aboriginal direction carving and stopped off to see some wild kangaroos before a leisurely cruise back round to Sydney Harbour under the bridge, past the Opera House and back into Circular Quay. After trekking back down to the other end of Pitt St to our hostel, sprucing up a bit, we went for dinner at the Three Wise Monkeys then strolled home.
Over slept a bit today because we forgot to set an alarm... Mums just gone down to Coles to get some food then we're doing a 3 hour walking tour around the City, may walk over the bridge to Luna Park later. Tomorrow we intend to catch a ferry over to Manly for the day. Might rain so we've got a backup plan of ducking into the Art Museum and Aquarium, if not, there's the market and beach walks. May be able to catch up with another Trek Am friend too hopefully!

I think thats it for now. Stay in touch as we'd love to hear from you. May not be back online to blog until we get to New Zealand now as I'm not sure when we'll have time, so don't worry if it goes quiet, check facebook updates!

Miss and love you all
Josie & Kim xxxxxxx

We missed Tuesday...

So we've arrived safe and sound in Sydney after a very long journey from Heathrow to Dubai, to Bangkok (Which was a surprise) then Sydney. We've eaten four plane meals and missed Tueday! It's about 1am for you guys and 11am here. Really want to pass out but can't check into our room til 2 and need to try and stay awake so we actually sleep at night.
Some sad news... my shampoo opened in my bag and made a nice mess over all my toiletries and some clothes that I had to deal with after getting my bag off the carousel. Still cant sort it properly until I get in my room, boooo! Feeling slighting childish, irrational, grimy and homesick. Yup, only just arrived but I find this the worst bit, settling in. Mums doing well though! Shes just charging her phone and answering her many messages at the moment. She says hello!
The weather is a little miserable and grey but not as chilly as home. Will go for a wander when my times up here, maybe buy some healthy food that we so desperately need.

Anyway - the plan this week looks like this so far...
Tomorrow we're meeting a lovely girl called Kelly that I met on my first 3 weeks of Trek America for lunch in China Town and then my mums cousin is hopefully coming into town for dinner with us. Shes coming to England for Christmas so we can organise! Friday we've got a Blue Mountain tour booked for the day so that should keep us busy, and then two days to go round the harbour, maybe over to Manly, we'll see.

Will update again soon,
All our love
Josie & Kim xxx

Psalm 139

ps  I am fine with my chaotic body clock at home i am used to short sleeps and eating at funny times.  No change then!! but did miss tuesday!!!  Chatted to a cute ozzie on the plane, josie sat next to a cute guy who fell aseep the whole way.  Josie has gone back to 5 year old mentality, and is soooo tired and irritable great we have only just arrived  lot of love to you all Kim

Chapter Two: It's a mother daughter thing...

We fly next Monday! By 9pm we'll be flying over England to Sydney via Dubai. The plan is this...

Arrive in Sydney, Australia on 26th, sleep a lot, then see trek friends and explore over the next few days. On 31st we will be catching a flight to Auckland, New Zealand where we'll stay the night in a hostel and be picked up the following morning to start our three week tour around both islands. I'm not sure if we'll be with the same group the whole way or not, its more likely to be a hop-on-hop-off thing. Soon find out.

This trek is based in more hostels/lodges and a lot more feeding ourselves rather than as a group in the campgrounds. I've got a few things on my to-do list as well like a bungee jump, maybe more horse riding and plenty of hikes...

After arriving back in Auckland around 20th November we'll stay the night then catch a flight back to Dubai where we intend to sun ourselves for two days then head back to cold little England on 24th with a nice winter tan. :)

Organising this trip is a little more complicated with all the flights and various accommodations - plus I'm organising for two. I've got double everything slowly mounting up in my bedroom ready to be packed. All the paper work and last minute things to throw in are hanging around needing my attention...

But we're getting there and John is almost organised and ready to have some freedom from us! Mum's alright, a bit nervous I think, but mainly she just breaks into an excited holiday dance every now and again which I'll try and record at some point for entertainment purposes.

I'll even been updating for two while were away so Hi all mums friends!

And remember whenever you read, we'll be about 13 hours ahead of you. 

See you in Winter

Josie
xxx