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Queenstown
The World Bar and our teapots On the flight to NZ we couldn't quite believe that Australia was over. We all have so many unforgettable memories and have met some great people. We never anticipated covering as much of Aussi and doing as much as we have but it was all so worthwhile and such great fun.
Early on Sunday morning we flew into Christchurch. The views from the plane over NZ were beautiful. The snowy peaked mountains led to flat lush green land and it was great to have a birds eye view of the landscape. It was a bit of a shock to arrive in icy cold weather from being in the heat, however, although it was cold the sky was blue and the sun was shinning so we didn't let it phaze us.
Christchurch is known to be the most English city out of England and walking through the town did definitely remind us of place back home although it has of course a better setting and more beautiful surroundings. We spent the next day looking around the city. In the morning we watched a street show by the "Motley Two" performing circus acts. Micky was even asked to participate. We visited the
The girls
Taking in the beautiful views! cathedral and the botanical gardens before meeting up with the guys from Leeds that we met in Aussi. We also met up with Dave (again who we met in Oz) and had an evening of drinking and catching up.
We decided the next day to venture out a little futher than Christchurch and visited Hanmer Springs, famour for its famous hot water springs. We firstly took a walk up Conical Hill where we had spectacular views across the town to the mountains in the background, and then took a well earned swim in the water springs which ranged form 36 degrees to 42 degrees. The springs did however small of rotten egg due to the sulphur but we soon got used to that.
We met up with Dave again that evening to get helpful tips on NZ.
The next morning was one we had been very excited about for a good few weeks. We were picking up the campervan! We arrived at the camper garage with Kim being a little nervous as she was the one to drive first and didn't want to attract too much attention when driving off by stalling or worse!!! However, our camper attracts attention where
The Campervan
Female brain! ever we go due to the graffiti all over it. On one side is the male brain and on the other the female brain, each contradicting each other and making sexist jokes......check out the pictures!!! All very excited we bundled into our van and did a food shop for the next few weeks. We drove that afternoon to Akaroa, a small French town on the east coast where we cooked ourselves dinner on our small single ring stove! We then headed further south to Methven where we stopped for the night. We were pretty sneaky and turned up late to the campsite when reception was closed and left early before we had to pay!!! Not only did we have to wake up very early that morning we woke freezing cold not having had much sleep due to the heavy rain during the night.
After Methven we headed through Geraldine, Fairlie and stopped at Lake Tekapo. We reached Mount Cook in the afternoon where we did a long walk up the mountain seeing lots of beautiful sights. Ironically it was just us three girls on top of the mountain and two other guys who happened to be from Milton Keynes! Small
Lake Tekapo
Strike a pose! world or what? After doing another shorter walk a little bit further on with the guys we headed to Twizel and set up for the night, where a much better sleep was had by all of us.
Passing through Wanaka we arrived in Queenstown just after lunch and had much needed showers in our hosel that we booked into. Queenstown is a beautiful place situated by a lake and surround by mountains. It is a ski resort town but unfortunately we are not yet in skiing season.
That night we had a night out on the town with our room mates (3 guys from Norwich and 2 from Bristol). We ended up in the world bar where the drinks come in tea pots!!!
Today we are off to a near by gorge in Queenstown where the highest bungee jump in the world can be found - the Nevis! As we write this blog Micky and Sarah's stomachs are most definitely churning at the thought of free falling 134m and Kim will be watching nervously. Watch this space to see if we actually go through with it!!!
Love the girls xxx
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Sarah's parents
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To all Eagle House Gappies
What a great time you're still having - so jealous! Hope all the gaps are still keeping up with your bloggs. A huge thanks to you all and of course to your parents for giving the girls such fantastic hospitality and no doubt saving them a bob or two into the bargain! Camper van is really special. not too conspicuous ha ha! Drive safely and enjoy meeting some more special friends in New Zealand. Give them our best wishes. Lots of love 2 u all.xxx