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Published: August 7th 2007
After just a week in New Zealand I've already hiked Franz Josef Glacier, jumped out of a plane from 15,000ft, destroyed myself mountain biking, and thrown myself into a canyon in all sorts of compromising positions!
New Zealand is truly stunning! My first impressions were great and they just keep being surpassed! My first day was like landing in England on a great weather day..... but is that good enough to warrant a 24 hour flight or even enough to move here? Give me a couple more weeks and I'll have an answer.
I nearly didn't make it to NZ and surprise surprise the reason is alcohol. My flight was due to leave Sydney for Christchurch at 8:30am, which meant I would have to get up at 4:30am to catch the bus and make the flight. However, when I set my phone alarm at 2am after a big farewell party I didn't notice my phone was set to silent. I ended up waking up at 6:30am and (before I looked at my watch) thinking 'wow I can't believe I'm awake before 4:30'. My thought quickly changed to something that's not fit for all readers! I managed to make the
flight because fortunately there was a train station near by that saved 40mins. I even had time to shower at the airport. However, because I didn't know about all the customs checks I still ended up being the last person to board the plane. Oh the reason I woke up was due to alcohol too: I needed the loo. So you could say booze helped save the day......
Hiking the Glacier was great fun and unlike anything I've done. I learned my lesson from freezing mountain climb in China and was prepared for the cold this time. I was sung as a bug in my thermal t-shirt and leggings! If I fell at any point I was happy in the knowledge that all my padding would allow me to bounce to safety.
The sky dive was unbelievable. I've always wanted to do one and knew I would do one in NZ, however I didn't see it coming! I was shopping around for a mountain bike to hire when I saw a place advertising sky dives so I dropped in to ask about the cost. I'm not exaggerating when I say that 30mins after walking in that shop I
was jumping out of a plane!! The whole experience was nuts! Doing 720 spins while falling at 200km/h beats any roller coaster, plus you've got the added fear that the parachute might not open! Enjoy watching how wrinkly my stretchy face becomes!!
My mountain biking trip let me take in how stunning NZ is. When I landed I thought it might just be that one area, but the whole of the South Island is beautiful. As I said in my title, this place is a true postcard country because wherever you point your camera you'll get the perfect shot.
My most recent adrenaline seeking activity was a canyon swing. Unlike the name suggests there is very little swinging involved, but a lot of falling! I threw myself into a canyon three times and each time I did it a different way. The videos are on this page, but be warned my language isn't fit for kids.
I hope everyone is coping without me. Until next time, over and out.
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Bectoria
non-member comment
Bombs!
The funny thing about becoming a traveller is, you pick up all types of addictive habbits like slang words for whichever country in may be visiting or not washing yourself/clothes for any length of time or eating copious amounts of junk food cos you cant afford anything healthy BUT in your case Charlie, it will be the Yagermeister and redbull bombs!! glad to see you've kept them up although i am wondering how on earth you can still afford them?! I dread to think what kind of nights you have had on them, after our experience....actually maybe I dont want to know!! Pics are awesome, love them although I'm sure your mother would have something to say about them....xx