| 6th Shotover Jet Woke early and caught a bus to the shotover jet place. This is essentially a very fast speedboat which does not have a propeller but a jet, which means it can run on shallow water. We all got abroad, in the rain and then rode the boat behind a tractor to the buller river. The boat roared into life and we started to ride down the river at 50kms...slow, I know but we were going against the wind! Then when we reached the turning point, we started to do spins. We were tossed around in the back like rag dolls and soaked. We did about 15 all the way up and crusied at 70kms...it was pretty wild! Hooked up with the bus then we drove down the coast some more and arrived into a pub in the middle on nowhere called Mahinpua. The bar was already open, so I had a few beers - but the plan for this evening was that the girls had to wear a dress made out of bin bags and the blokes had to cross dress. Funnily enough, all the guys were pretty happy about this prospect! So we all got dressed up with make up and nail polish. I went as a pregnant lady with a maternity dress and blusher on! The foto's of me dressed up are available if anyone is interested!! Some of the guys looked really funny and quite convincing...we just partied the nite away there. Fun nite was had! 7th Ice Left there with everyone feeling worse for wear! We then drove down to Franz Josef stopping at a few costal spots on the way down for some great views! Arrived into town and paid for a full day's hike the following day of the glacier. Then drove to the hostel and sat around chatting before heading to the bar for a game of pool. I headed to bed early as I was really tired! 8th Franz Josef So today we went to the tour co and got fitted out with hats and crampons. Drove to the glacier, then walked for 30 mins along the river bed. We then started to climb the glacier (which was tiny Vs Argentina's) which was covered in rocks. So after 20 mins we stopped for us to put on our crampons. Then we climbed over the ice, which was pretty wierd but great fun. We climbed over hills of ice, through valleys and it between large blocks. We then had some lunch b4 climbing through tunnels which we slid out of - that was wild an d sore! We left there and I had some dinner and then went to bed. It was a totally awesome but tiring day! 9th Drove to reflection island - it had some great views of Mt Cook and of the island reflected in the water. Some great shots of Mt Cook and Tasman (biggest hills here!) We then drove to Wanaka... After checking in, we went shopping for some beers and vodka. The girls went to buy some food whilst I foned home. Back to hostel for some dinner. We drank a little too much vodka and went to shooters bar, in a really bad way. Left there with no memory and headed back to the hostel - had a big argument with the doorman about something...can't remember what though! 10th Puzzles Woke up with the whole coach laughing at us as we walked aboard. Went to puzzle world and did the maze there, although it seemed to take us ages as we kept on getting lost and not finding the exit. Went round the other illusions, it was all really good but difficult to comprehend at 10am! Drove to the K bridge and watched some folks bungy - I paid for one as well, on the ledge overlooking Queenstown. No going back now! These guys did with no hassle, I don't know what the fuss is about! Arrived into town and checked into the Hippo Lodge. Sorted some stuff out then went for some food shopping. We then headed out, as I was meeting a old friend from the Prudential (Paul Moore!). Met him in the World, and we drank loads there and danced. Left there at about 2.30ish and went with Dan the Kiwi bus driver to Chico's for some more fun. Headed home at 4ish...I think! 11th the Ledge After a 12.30pm start we met some of the other folks on the bus at 1 for a subway lunch. We then wandered through town for a it before catching the gondola up the hill to the bungy platform. Here we met some others from the bus, and so watched ALice swing first - she was petrified of it...unsure why as she did a skydive in the morning. Then I was up next...I got all my gear on then did a running jump with a mid air somersult and then fell 47m - pretty scary stuff, esp when you feel like you are coming out of the harness. Trembling, we left there and went back home for some dinner. Headed back to the pub at 8.30ish for some more beers and teapots (cocktails!). Left there pretty early and went to red rock but that was dead, so we went home. 12th Milford Sound Woke up at 6am as we had to catch the 7am bus. We drove through some amazing scenery, huge valleys and mountains and then through the homer tunnel. Jumped on the boat and started our 3 hr ride up the sound. Its actually a fjord, not a sound! It has huge mountains coming out of the water, almost a mile into the sky - pretty amazing stuff. This is where many Lord of the Rings bits were filmed! Left there and jumped back on the bus, sleeping and watching Mikey Blue eyes, which is pretty good! Home for some food and sleep! 13th On the Piste! Caught the bus up to the Remarkables ski field. The road up there is a bit harrowing, but you get some good views of Queenstown and surrounding country. Once there we went up the ski lift to the tubing park. We hopped on to the tube lift to take us to the top, then we sailed down on these inflatable tubes. I was flying oer bumps and going really fast. It was pretty good fun! We got heaps of free rides as it was not busy and they liked to laugh at us coming down! On the way donw Liz trapped her foot under the ski lift, so we headed to first aid to get it checked out. She had a torn claf muscle, I think. So we sat about in the canteen listening to some guy massacre songs then rode the bus home. Back to hostel, then I headed into town to use the internet. Liz hobbled down later and we went to watch the opening of the Queenstown festival. There was a stage with folks doing the haka and some ice, fire and snow dance. Petty good, but it was so cold there. Then there was 20 mins of fireworks to music - the best I had seen for a long time. the whole town was there, it was rammed. Headed to the World to watch the rubgy. It was a good game, and all the locals were happy with the result although there were only 5 in the bar as it was mostly Ozzies and English! Met Paul again and then met the others for some more drinks. Danced the nite away till about 3ish, I think. 14th Christchurch Left Queenstown, and drove up to some lakes on the way north. Everyone was so tired so we just slept all the way north. I have never slept so much on the bus. My head kept falling and banging against the window, which was rather unfunny! Arrived into town at 6ish. Liz, Jen and I then wandered round trying to find somewhere for dinner, could we, no! Everything was shut on Sunday! So eventually we found an Irish bar...and I had the biggest hamburger ever! 15th Shocker! I woke up and struggled out of the warm bed to the pitter patter of the rain. Wandered into town across the river Avon and found a hairdresser - I wouldn't tell you what they did but its a it of a shocker. Not doing much today as Liz is ill and I am knackered plus its pouring wet here. Off in the morning to Kaikora for the whale watching... 16th Big Whales Left Christchurch in the rain (for a change it was raining!) and drove to the small town of kaikora. We checked into the Adelphi hotel then hopped aboard the boat to see some whales. The sea was extremely rough and the boat was rocking really heavily. So we sailed out to some sea which the captain reckoned had a whale, sure enough we got there and there was a sperm whale. We watched it for a while then saw it dive - pretty amazing stuff. Saw another couple of whales and some Ruski dolphins. They were ace as they swam alongside the boat and jumped out of the water for fotos. These mamals are well trained here. The stench of sick drifted through the cabin as people succombed to the sea. My nautical skills and sea legs ensured that I would be alright! Stayed in the hostel as there nothing else to do in town and enjoyed the free veg soup and movies (Jerrry Magire and Hollow man!) |