New Zealand "Sweet As!"

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Kia Ora from not so sunny New Zealand

Isn't it meant to be in the middle of summer in New Zealand? Thats what we thought but were unfortunately faced with a wet chilly climate, not that we would let that dampen our moods. We started off with the usual touristy stuff in Auckland and Christchurch (Lots of walking, views and Eating!) before hiring a car for 11 days to tour around the South Island. Mel was entrusted with driving us, due to my condition, (this was no mean feet as the Romans never came as far as NZ) and off we went! We started with Whale and Dolphin watching in Kaikura which was fantastic (one of the Whales was 20m long!). We then made our way around New Zealand's stunning scenery to Frans Joseph where we climbed the Glacier there. This was beautiful and would have been the highlight of the trip had I not dropped our camera down the smallest of cracks in the ice while trying to take an edgy photo of Mel climbing up a particularly steep wall of ice. Needless to say I had some serious work to do to dig myself out of the doghouse (actually the ice but thankfully the guide managed to pursuade her that squeezing me down the crack in the ice where the camera had fallen would just worsen the situation).

After Frans Joseph was Queenstown and although we chickened out of a bungy we braved the white water rapids and had a fab time and definitely recommend to all our sporty adreline junky friends out there!

Before going I have to mention that Mel and I both had to endure some rather painful insect bites in NZ, Mel under her arm and me on my shin. Both blew up like a balloon and both requiring PAINFUL medical attention! The interesting thing was when I went to the Dr's in NZ for the first time: I went in and said that I thought I had a Spider Bite on my leg (apparantly there are white tail spiders in NZ - Poisonous buggers for you non scientific types out there). His response was as follows:

"Naa there are No spiders in New Zealand...Let's see your Le...JESUS WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!" I rest my case.

We are now in Sydney and are about to do a mad trip up to Cairns so fingers crossed we will report to you in a few weeks with some good stuff.

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Photos

Franz Joseph from our hostel
Some of New Zealand's beauty

A Lake on our way to Queenstown
Ben take your hands out of your pockets boy!

A mountain walk
Ben takes his chances on THE BRIDGE OF DEATH

Comments

[Jenny]

Hi from Port Alfred!
Hopefully this owkrs and you get this-just reading through your New Zealand bits, sound and looks ace, sorry I won't be sqeezing it in this year, I'm sure I'll go back to it! I havbe sent you a very lengthy e-mail, again! I get typing happy once I start and we have escaped the community for the day! gald you are both doing well and enjoying, will try to check the bloggers when I can- take care and keep having fun, love loads Jenny xx