It was an early 6 o'clock in the morning start from Queenstown and when my alarm went off I could not remember why - possibly because of the whole tea-pot I drank last night without any help or the few hours sleep I had recieved but after a few minutes I came too and remembered that I was taking the most scenic tour in New Zealand to the Milford Sound [I have since learned that Milford is actually a fiord (glacier carved then sea flooded) rather than a 'sound' (river carved then sea flooded)] In preperation for the long winding roads [View Full Entry]

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It was an 8am start on the ski shuttle to the 'Remarkables' ski area - apparently in the summer months they filmed some scenes for LOTR here. This mountain range is one of the few [so I am told - but will check this out with a good atlas] that runs North-South. It was a little cloudy but the journey up the hill gave me a perfect view of Queenstown and the surrounding area. The Remarkables ski area is the highest in altitude in the region and after 13,5km of winding twisting steep and at times very scary paths in the [View Full Entry]

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I spent the morning recovering from the party the night before.  We had all gone out to the Red Rock to meet up with other Kiwi Experience passengers and drivers past and present.  Queenstown is normally the point in the trip where people split up and do their own thing or carry on with the tour so we were promissed a party - which is exactly what we got!!  A few of us braved the cold in order to experience the Minus 5 bar, where everything is made of ice including the glasses.  The half hour in the bar wearing thick [View Full Entry]

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The first stop of the morning between Wanaka and Queenstown was at puzzling world Well this certainly mucked up my head first thing in the morning. The holograms were pretty smart but the hall of moving faces freaked me out. It is based on the Mona Lisa moving eyes type trick. The next room looked normal from the outside but actualy played tricks with sizes for anyone looking in while there were people inside. This is the same simple technology they used in the Lord of the Rings films to make the hobbits look small. However it was the last room [View Full Entry]

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Due to yet another fabulous kayaking trip yesterday I was unable to get to the glacier-guides office before it closed, nobody else had signed up for the helicpter/glacier hike so I did not have a clue about when I was going or what to take with me. I figured the best plan was to get up with everyone else who was doing a whole day glacier trek, pack my lunch and wear lots of layers. I hurried along to the office in town for an early start (still dark) 7.30am only to be told that in winter the first helicpter leaves [View Full Entry]

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Well I have spent 2weeks exploring the north island and have had an excellent time - in some ways I don't want to leave here - met loads of cool people, been to loads of exciting places and have taken part in great activities, been ferried around by a fab driver, Royal [with cheese] and generally had a good time. In the south Island I have got cold weather, sand flies and a 3hr ferry ride amongst other things to look forward to. Anyway it has to be done - sure I will have a good time in the South aswell, [View Full Entry]

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Well after a night of drinking, dancing and all the other usual night out mischief we decided the best way to clear the old cobwebs is to get right out there in the windiest place in N.Z. put on a pair of of oversized plastic boots which have four wheels attached to them and investigate what this city has to offer during daylight hours (of which there are few - remember it is winter here). Yep you guessed it we went roller-blading. I have found out the most fun way to enjoy roller-blading if you are an experienced skater is to [View Full Entry]

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Well sorry for the delay folks, I spent the rainy days in Taupo catching up on the online diary thing then I have been really busy either touring or doing activities. Not much to report from Taupo - it was just a rainy wet town and for a wee while I was worried I might be stranded there!  I did go to the cinema and watch Shrek 2 - it was cool and Over the next few days the little group I have been mucking around with from the Kiwi bus have been repeating some of the lines and taking the mick [View Full Entry]

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Today I signed up for Black Water Rafting which is quite different from white water rafting.  Although I wasn't sure if it would be going ahead at seems to have rained non stop since late the previous night.  I actually wasn't in a raft at all, but instead an inner tube from a large tyre.  I donned a 9mm wet suit some funky shorts and white boots and a helmet with a lamp on that is like a miners helmet. The first test was to jump backwards off a platform (5m) into a sediment filled brown river - think the only [View Full Entry]

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Kia Ora (a general greeting of good will & a diluting soft drink found in th UK) A visit to a Maori Marae (village/meeting place) started with a short bus journey, the Maori guide entertained us with songs and chants along the way and even taught me how to say a few things in Maori. Our bus was now known as a waka and we elected a chief from the waka to accept a piece offering from the Maori warrior that met us at the entrance to the Marae - following me so far? After the lecture about not laughing at [View Full Entry]

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