> By Country:

I spent a whole near in Kiwiland and simply loved the place. The people are always up for a laff and the scenery is just unfeasibly pretty - If you've seen 'Lord of the Rings' you've had but a taste of how amazing this place looks.

When I first arrived I spent a few weeks traipsing around Queenstown in the South Island looking for work at the ski resorts, but wasn't very successful.

I decided to change tack, and started stalking all the hostels in town instead and managed to find a sweet job as a receptionist at one of the largest places in town: Southern Laughter Lodge.

What a break! The pay was crap but I got free accommodation (in a shed at the bottom of the garden - no really) and best of all, I got to do all the adventure activities that Queenstown has to offer for free! For a cheapskate like me what could be better!

So in the winter I spent my days off skiing, and in the summer I tried all the mad activities that Queenstown is famous for like Bungy Jumping, Skydiving, Paragliding, etc etc. Heaven! (you can see pictures and stuff about all of these on my Adrenaline pages).

It wasn't all roses though I have to say. I did break my ankle Bungy Jumping, (which I have a video of) and couldn't walk for nearly 6 months which sucked.

Also I didn't have the best time socially either - strange really - I thought working in a hostel would be a great laugh, being around other like minded people, but when you've been working all day the last thing you want to do is hang around backpackers who are yakking on about the Bungy they just did, or how great skydiving is. When you're a worker, backpackers are just dull.