How to blow your travel budget in 5 short weeks

Oceania » New Zealand
November 24th 2005

Published: December 5th 2005

New Zealand has it all... well nearly. It's got soaring snow-capped mountains, beautiful sandy beaches, green rolling hills, dramatic glaciers, sheep, smoking volcanoes, unique architecture, more sheep, deep fijords and sticky rainforests. And did I mention it has sheep? It has enough rediculously convolluted methods to scare yourself silly by jumping from high things that you could turn yourse... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 53, Displayed: 21

Abel Tasman National Park: day 1

Knackered and cold, we got to the camp site in need of a good hot meal. Unfortunately that was not to be and cold pasta sandwiches were the only thing on the menu.

Abel Tasman National Park: day 2

Walking on beautiful deserted beachs in the middle of nowhere, not a donkey or a tatty arcade in sight. An ice cream van would have been nice though.

Abel Tasman National Park: day 2

Dinner worked out a bit better this time. We found a fire pit and a supply of logs, and it wasnt cold or wet. So those heavy tins of food that we'd been lugging for the last two days turned into quite a tasy meal.

Abel Tasman National Park: day 3

Sea kayaking in beautiful clear blue waters. NZ really has it all.

NZs longest swingbridge

Very Indiana Jones...

Salad!

I had to eat burgers for 5 days after this meal, just to even things out. Nah, seriously my diet has been OK recently, especially after cutting out the gineau pig.

Franz-Joseph

Like my new trainers?

Ice climbing

Ice climbing basically involves using two ice axes and your crampons to grip the ice. It's hard work and occasionally terrifying. By the end of the day my forearms felt 6 inces longer.

Fox

That's a glacier that is. The one we climbed on was the Franz-Joseph glacier 20km to the north.

Queenstown from above

On the way up to the top for my third mountain bike downhill run...

Mountain biking

Went for a morning's downhilling near Queenstown. Probably the most challenging but rewarding biking I've done. Loved it.

The road to Milford

The spectacular Milford Sound

A popular stop on the NZ gringo trail, and justifiably so.

Milford Sound

This seal is the real deal.

The Kepler Trail

Another NZ Great Walk, this time in Fijordlands in the south. Supposed to take 3 to 4 days, but being well 'ard we were going to do it in 2.

The Kepler Trail

A couple of Scandinavian guys we met on the trail. That one on the left was especially witty and quite handsome I'd say.

The Kepler Trail

You dont have to go far in NZ to find a big vista.

The Kepler Trail

Taking it all in.

The Kepler Trail

The two intrepid adventurers exploring a cave on the trail.

Kea

These mischeivous parrots are clever and devious. But when they arent pulling bits of rubber off your car or locking you in the toilet on the trail (I kid you not) they are funny blighters.

5th December 2005

A-hole
non-member comment

loser
Shut up! you only put that you ate guinea pigs just to piss me off, I know you didn't! I want to go sky diving woooo! sounds freakin amazing. Talked to Lynz online this morning and she was having contractions, but they were an hour apart at that point. E-mail her and wish her luck!!!! I am so nervous. I miss you and it was good chatting for TWO hours yesterday!!!! COme home soon so I have someone to take the piss out of. I miss having that sadistic pleasure of making you feel like shit! Love you Ash xxxx aka WHATEVER

17th December 2005

anonymous
non-member comment

Mwr nice beard
Mwr nice beard Mate, it must be heart warming to know that so many people miss you. I echo Ash's feelings - you are my hero and I also miss your excellent wit and repetoire of hilarious jokes. I also like the comment about the mountain biking, though I imagine your ideas of "challenging" and "rewarding" were bloody hard core, knowing what a skilled biker you are - far better than me. On a more serious note, looks like you are having a fantastic time so well done dude, and keep enjoying it. On a less serious note, my breast enlargement has worked out very well we feel. In case you didn't know I'm off to India in Feb / March for a charity motorcycle trip that looks awesome, so hopefully catch you before then dude. Your friend, and fellow c*** Loui

22nd December 2005

Ben
non-member comment

Funny
Good blog mate. Not sure that I agree with your comment on the solitude of the Tongariro Crossing (I didn't have good enough weather but many people have commented how it is just a bloody big crowd of people). The media is pretty bad in NZ as well - they like to sensationalise just as much as the Mail and the Sun. Banning smoking progressive? Not sure on that either. Good beard action though- though clearly I'll have to show you what one looks like when I see you in Sydney.

31st December 2005

Tim
non-member comment

Happy New Year
Hello! I expect it is by now 2006 where you are (it's still 2005 here, but only for about another 9 hours). I hope you enjoy the celebrations with the local farming folk and their fleecy friends. I'm about to got and get my mullet trimmed, before pulling in my half-mast stone-washed jeans ready for tonight's festivities.

28th April 2006

Cooperman
Nick Cooperman

When's the sequel?
Not had any blog action from you for a very long time now! In the meantime I've seen you and know at the very least there is a haircut story which would be of interest to your readers. Knowing you, I'm sure there's a lot more... :-) I hear you've now moved on from Sydney and have gone to SEA. look forward to hearing about it and seeing you back here at work in a few months time. Enjoy the last of your travels! Nick

28th May 2006

You know who this is
non-member comment

hmmm
Now hold on for a second here MISTER....where am I???I see all sorts of fancy pics and stories on your blog...but where am I???HUH?You are in big trouble mister.You just wait and see.....My toes are ready. but are yours ?

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How to blow your travel budget in 5 short weeks

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