http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Missi333/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Missi333 en-us Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:51:41 +0000 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:51:41 +0000 The purpose of life is to live it to experience it to the utmost to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. E. Roosevelt.All expectations for this trip were exceeded. We conquered fears turned dreams into reality and truly enjoyed every minute of it To say that we grew from our experiences would be an understatement our souls were left sailing and our imagin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/blog-150435.html River Valley Adventure Lodge White Water RaftingWe stayed in a lodge situated deep in a valley next to the Rangateki River. We had to hike down about 12 mile just to get to it a beautiful setting. The next day we geared up wetsuits life vests and helmets to conquer some of New Zealand's Class 5 and most dangerous rapids. After many dunks raft flips and swims in the icy river water we http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Abel-Tasman-National-Park/blog-145579.html Wow we have really packed in a lot It's been nonstop We've been weaving down the North Island and a few days ago took a ferry to the South Island where the scenery just gets more and more stunning.In Waitomo we suited up for some serious spelunking in the Waitomo Caves we repelled down a narrow opening in the earth and wound up 50 meters underground. Above our heads were glowing worms on the http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/River-Valley/blog-143242.html We reunited with our Kiwi friends YAY and traveled the west coast including various walks tourists stops and a hilarious costume party we had to be a cartoon character who's name began with the first letter in our first name also we had to use garbage bags in our costume A really zany and fun night.Next day we arrived in Franz Josef village nestled in the Westland National Park passing http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Te-Anau/blog-145581.html Queenstown is a place I will certainly return a beautiful lakeside town tucked in the mountains. This is the adventure capital of the world and Rachelle and I couldn't resist getting involvedRachelle conquered the Canyon Swing a bungee Swing that drops you straight down into a canyon before swinging you out a terrifically scary experience She screamed until she had no breath left. This http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Queenstown/blog-145964.html After Kangaroo Island we spent a day in the beautiful Barossa Valley doing a bit of wine tasting and wound up with a couple of bottles hee hee. The Shiraz was especially good. Next was our long haul back through the OUTBACK and to the Blue Mountains. We camped there for two nights staying in a canyon valley the first night and then just outside of Katoomba the second. The Blue Mountains remind http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-139835.html We love New Zealand We only just arrived yesterday in Aukland North Island and quickly made arrangements to head out the next day. We are traveling on the Kiwi Experience Hopon Hop off bus really fun with loads of backpackers from all over. What a blast Everyone is excited and cool and currently partying here at our Turltle Cove Youth Hostel. Our bus took us winding through the mountains http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Mercury-Bay/blog-139842.html We headed down to enjoy the drive along the Great Ocean Road a beautful costal road winding around white sandy beaches and ecalyptus trees. It was magical camping next to the ocean the stars here seem brighter and falling asleep to the sound of the waves We stopped along to way to go for a bit of a hike and managed to spot 18 kaolas it was incredible They were everywhere and so cute Our http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-137680.html We love Melbourne This city is awesome and we were lucky enough to hook up with friends Alison who attended elementary school with me we discovered and her husband Brad. Today we went to St. Kilda a really cool part of town like Santa Cruz and then headed over to the Sydney street fair and caught a SKA show the Skavenders they were awesome and we danced until we were broken. Super fu http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-134921.html After our marvelous adventure with the turtles and marine life we headed south to Bisbane to the Lone Pine Kaola Sanctuary. Here we got to pet and feed the kangaroos and the highlight hold a Kaola the only place in Australia you are allowed to hold them. They are SO CUTE Mine was all cuddled up with me no worries mates I got a picture. Next we really got into our roadtrip and hit the OUTB http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-134420.html Wow what an amazing couple of days We've been trippin' around in our campervan what a wonderful way to see Australia It's been a bit whacky getting used to driving on the right side of the car and left side of the road but sleeping eating and motoring around in our lil' Britz has been awesome and a lot of fun We headed north to Byron Bay and stopped along the way in Evan's Head an of http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-133294.html We love Sydney We have arrived safe and sound and got start to work seeing the city. It didn't take long to realize we LOVE Sydney. It reminds us a lot of San Francisco and Seattle.We are staying in a great part of town called Glebe with a super cool girl named Rowena who has been more than hospitable. We checked out the Opera House did the Sydney Tower for 360 breathtaking views of the city http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-131256.html Sitting in San Francisco backpack stuffed and ready to go. I've been super hyper all morning I can't believe we're leaving in a few hours for Sydney This is very surreal . . . of course the 20 hrs on the plane should help in a sedationreality check. . . . I've had that Men at Work song in my head all morning Do you come from a land down under . . .can you hear can you hear the thunder yo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Sydney-Airport/blog-130131.html