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Published: February 18th 2007
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Finally another country.... now i feel like I'm REALLY travelling! Australia was fun - alot of fun but I reckon New Zealand will be better - I have that gut feeling but i reckon thats partly due to knowing its not going to evolve around getting pissed most nights like in Oz!
After arriving from Perth to Melbourne airport I had to spend 8 hours waiting for my flight out to Christchurch - so got myself a book & my sarong out of my back pack and made myself as comfy as possible on the airport metal chairs then waited and waited... finally caught my flight to Christchurch which only took about 3 and a half hours - I was shattered thou when i arrived!
Although i was knackered on my first day in New Zealand, Christchurch. I really didn't wanna waste the day away by sleeping so i got myself together booked into our hostel which was conviently located by the cathedral, so i took a look around the beautiful cathedral went along to the arts centre saw a group of Maori people perform the traditional Haka, very amuzing and entertaining - what a welcome!! I was knackered
by the time I headed back to the hostel so caught a few winks before the girls waking me up to test out Christchurch's nightlife - i thought what the heck its a Saturday night so got myself together and hit the town - it was ok but nothing too crazy... found out young Kiwi girls are awful thats for sure, so rude and get absolutely hammered!
I stayed in Christchurch for 3 days, went Punting along the Avon River by Christchurch's beautiful Botanic Gardens also went up the Gondola at Banks Peninsula which was absolutely stunning with views across Lyttelton Harbour and towards the Southern Alps, we got the Black Cat ferry over to Diamond Harbour to get more beautiful views... took aload more posing photos! I organised a 8 seater people carrier for our roadtrip which i managed to barter the price down - my old purchasing skills came into action and even managed to wangle one free day of hire, score!!
Our road trip started off with a drive to AKaroa which took 1 half hours from Christchurch - we arrived slightly late as we had to exchange our people carrier over for another as aircon
didn't work in the last and we had no stereo - but still we arrived in Akaroa at around 1'ish and unfortunately had missed all the day tours so we made our own one up and climb a mountain!!! I wasn't prepared and neither were the other girls for a mountain hike - we chose a walk which had a 'moderate' rating but actually it was hard especially when you wearing flip flops and carrying handbags!!! typical girls... we powered on thou and 2 hours later we made it to the top - EVENTUALLY!! The views over the lakes were breathtaking - terquise blue waters, sun glistening over... you just have to look at the pics!
Next day we headed onto Lake Tekapo - WOW is all I can say - we stayed in a hostel over looking the lake and choose such a perfect day to arrive.
From Lake Tekapo we drove to Mount Cook - viewing Mount Cook from a distance was as stunning as was it close up, apparently at Mount Cook you can experience all four weather seasons in one day - but luckily we experienced summer all day 😊
Our next stop from Lake Tekapo
View over Bank Peninsula
From Top of the Gondola was Dunedin, unfortunately the weather wasn't very pleasant when we arrived... windy and raining - so didn't really do much on the day of arrival but the following day me and Lou took the car to see the steepest street in the world - i was tempted to drive up it but then had second thoughts, so I took my pics and headed to Otaga Peninsula had a cruise around before lunch nice little area and topped the day off with a visit to Speights Brewery - got to try their different beers as many times as you like within 20mins - i came away a little rosy cheeked 😊
From Dunedin we drove onto Milford Sound - another BIG WOW!!! we booked ourselves onto the 8.55 cruise around the sound, we were very lucky as the morning was lovely and fresh clear blue sky managed to see a group of New Zealand fury seals - Sea Lions and a whole bunch of Bottle Nose Dolphins began to swim along side our boat - everyone was frantically trying to catch them in a pic as they swam by - a lot of Oooo and Rrrrrr;s were heard!!
Next
stop is Queenstown - every time I mentioned or heard the name 'Queenstown' my heart thumped, as I wanted to push myself to complete a bungee jump and go white water rafting (over the Shotover River) and y'know i managed to push myself to the limits and completed both!! yes EVEN the bungee jump! I was bricking it - the thought of pushing yourself to do an act which is very similar to committing suicide of a bridge is CRAZY... my heart was thumping my whole body was shacking but hey I did it of the Kawarau Bridge 43 metres high - wow what an achievement!! I've never felt so scared in all my life - I think I will only ever do one bungee jump in my lifetime and this was it! I purchased the video of me jumping - it is hilarious, I definately got my monies worth!!
I'm in Franz Josef as I'm typing this blog - still trying to get to grips about the bungee I did in Queenstown, apparently I'm even talking in my sleep about it and even mentioning the 'Nevis' which is New Zealand's biggest Bungee jump a 100 + metres with
Flip flops & Hadbags
Climb up the mountain in Akaroa a 8 second free fall - and I know for sure there is no way I would put myself through the tension and stress again.
Franz Josef is stunning enroute to here we stopped off briefly at Fox Glacier but by far Franz Josef Glacier is way nicer in my opinion. This morning I woke up checked in for my Twin Glacier Helicopter ride which last 30 mins and was worth every little penny spent!! as you can see from the pics the ice is amazing - after the helicopter ride we then checked in to do a Glacier hike - once again breath taking - I cannot believe I actually hiked up Franz Josef Glacier it was surreal... but I have the pictures to prove it!!!
I'm feel like I'm achieving so much in New Zealand - sight seeing and crazy adrenalin seeking activities and I'm loving every minute of it - and I'm sooo addicted to white water rafting I'm even searching for the higher grade rivers to raft along with extreme places to do my first Black Water Rafting.... Ooooo can not wait!!!
I really hope you get an email informing that I have updated
Heritage Park
View from the top of the mountain climb this site - as apparently not everyone received notification on the last blog... will keep these coming so keep checking on my happenings - next stop Is Greymouth for Glow worms experience then onto Hamner Springs for some quad biking and a little relaxation!!!!
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anonymous
non-member comment
Looks like you been having a great time in Nrew Zealand see you still cant keep away from the bar though! lol Didn't think you would have gone through with the bungee jump good on yer girl i can say that cos your still alive and kicking! Speak you soon love. Keep the blogs up love mum and dad