NZ South

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Fri 6th
We caught the ferry to Picton and then drove down to Nelson, where we found a campsite.
The weather was awesome so we decided to take a walk into the town and have a look around and to stretch our legs as we had been couped up for days as it hadn’t stopped raining.
We ended up in a bar with a fantastic deal as the guy behind the bar thought we were staying at the backpackers hostel. So we had 4 pints and one shot for $15. Also the pool was free from 5-7pm so we stayed until the end! Half way through playing I realized I had been taught be a missed ‘world champion’ in pool- Marcus Luke. Nath sorry but you’re a looser!!! He he

Sat 7th
It hasn’t stopped raining since we got the camper!! The locals of Nelson said that it hardly ever rains and this is freak weather- great. But any how we made the most of the day by going to the local Saturday market. Then we moved onto the Wow museum. This stands for World of wearable art but also had vintage cars.
As we were soaked wet through we took shelter in a café and then came home to have some fresh pasta and sauce that we bought from the market. We also watched All blacks beat OZ in the world cup rugby.

Sun 8th
Nathan wasn’t feeling very well today so we had a lazy day. We got up and left for the Japanese gardens and then headed 56km to Abel Tasman for a short walk along the beach. A lot of people rave about able Tasman for its beaches but personally I think we have just as nice beaches in Cornwall! It was a lovely afternoon so we picked it just right but as soon as we got back to the campsite it started to rain again.

Mon 9th
We travelled 8 hours today to get to Fox Glacier and on the way I killed two birds, they flew right in front of the van. Ha ha but what made me feel better is that Nathan killed two in one shot. Apart from bird killing there was awesome scenery. Some of the pics we took didn’t look real and looked like we had stuck things on.

Tues 10th
Nathan was still feeling rubbish so we didn’t go and do the Fox Glacier walk but instead we got to Lake Matheson for 9.30am, it was so peaceful. Then we took a slow drive to Gillespies beach and on the way we saw an amazing view of the Fox Glacier.
For the rest of the day we pottered around and did washing, had lunch etc. Just as we were going to eat lunch on the bench outside it started to spit with rain again.

Wed 11th
Well today was the highlight of our trip- although it has all been amazing, walking on the Fox Glacier was magical!!! You would not believe how much ice there is and how it forms with the craters and the caves etc. At two points of the day I was so scared and to be fair I think everyone else was as well. It was the height factor and there were holes everywhere with freezing cold water in them and if you fell you would be a ‘gonner’.
The people we did it with were really nice and the tour guide was funny and just kept on laughing at us because we were so scared- obviously it was in a nice way to make us feel at ease. Even at one point to get to the other side of the crater we had to climb up a rope that Passang had drilled into the ice.
After an 8 hour day of walking up a Glacier we got back to the coach worn out.

Thurs 12th
Woke up early, got in the shower to find the showers were cold and stopped working. Not a good start to the day.
We finally got to Wanaka, at a five star lodge with free internet access, a spa and sauna. Even though its five star it wasn’t that expensive, in fact only 2.50 GBP a day.
Oh we went to puzzle world which was fun and in one room the floor was raised on one side which made you very disorientated and drunk. Great!!! ha ha

Fri 13th
Today I had some waxing done beause I was starting to look like a NZ gorilla.
We sorted our snowboarding gear out for the next three days. We only paid GBP 190 for the hire of all the gear. This took all afternoon as we wanted to get the best deal.

Sat 14th
What a fab day again!! We had sno boarding lessons.
Abbi our instructor was so good and patient with us and by the end of the day we were riding down the slopes like a ‘falling leaf’- this means, side to side on your toe and heel edge.
We both felt the burn at the end of the day as we fell over SO many times. Our bottoms, knees, back, well everything was hurting!!
Anyone not good with heights (me), it is not a good road to get up to the slopes, what a drop and when it’s a little slippery with snow and ice, it’s so scary but with awesome views!!


Sun 15th
We awoke with aching bones from the day before!
Also our heater broke so we had to hunt for another one. Now we could thaw ourselves out.
As we were supposed to be doing our sky dive at 10am this morning, we sat in the lounge with the fire on, starring out of the window looking at the sky wishing and praying for the weather to clear! Finally about 2pm the sky cleared and it turned out to be a beautiful day. So off we trotted to the air port to jump out of a plane. It was awful travelling up to the air port - the thoughts going through my mind were horrendous and I had sweaty but cold hands and totally feeling sick.
We watched two other planes and come back before it was our turn to go so we were up there with anticipation for 1.5 hours. Finally our turn came, we had two children with us who were jumping from 12,000 feet. This was horrible as we had to watch them open the door for them to fall out of the plane and then they shut the door again and we started climbing to 15,000 feet. Nathan turned around and said he felt sick and I felt faint at one stage and nearly asked them to turn around or for me to go back down in the plane. The plane journey was horrible - it took 20-25 mins to get up to where we had to jump. Nathan was before me, now that was horrid watching him go first. Then it was my go, he pushed me to the edge of the plane with my head leant back on his shoulder with me holding onto my harness straps and then pow off we went, free falling for 60 seconds at some speed. This was amazing and what a great feeling this was but OMG didn’t I shit myself all the way down, actually it was all the way up as well. He he Even though I was scared freefalling this was so much better than when he had pulled the parachute- but this still felt as if I was on a very high rollercoaster.
I would do this again tomorrow if I could because eI could sit back and enjoy this more as I would know what was going to happen etc.
We were so ecstatic with excitement we didn’t go to bed until 12.30 - now that’s late for us!

Mon 16th
Today we got up for snowboarding, 6.30 hasn’t been in our lives since the beginning of June so the early mornings have been killing us, as well as snowboarding all day. We managed to stand up and ride down the slopes like a pro he he. Apart from the time when I fell over and really hurt my leg, neck and left cheek.
We were buzzing again today, the fact that we could actually snow board!! It’s so much easier than surfing.

Tues 17th
The weather was raining but @ Cordrona it was snowing and with very poor visibility conditions we were on and off the slopes all day. This was a really nice day. I only fell over once and in fact Nathan fell over more times than me that day- which was a first!! I was so proud of him as he picked it up really easy/quickly and we were going to go on the bigger slopes but the weather wasn’t that great and you couldn’t see 10 foot in from of your face and I was so sore I was too dubious about falling and hurting myself even more.
We were knackered when we both got into the coach and we both fell asleep for 10 minutes and then when we got back to the campsite we relaxed in the spa and sauna.

Wed 18th
As we were aching and we were so tired we had a chilled day. We did a little shopping, gave back our snowboarding gear and then went and got our wind screen wipers changed.
We walked by Lake Wanaka and I fed the ducks with bread and they eat out of my hand.
We got back to the campsite and caught up with our pictures on FB, watched a film and had cheese toastie.
Paradiso is the only cinema in Wanaka and they only have around three showings a day and it’s really quirky, there are settees to sit on and not chairs which makes it so comfortable and half way through the film they have to change the reel. It was quite expensive -$14 each but it’s a good experience as it only fits in about 40 people.
Nathan has started to like white wine which is a nice thing as it’s nice to always share a bottle of wine but the down fall is that there is not as much for you! Well, Nathan hates red so that is a bonus! Ha ha
Oh and guess what, Nathan is becoming a silver fox - yes he has 3 grey hairs. He was mortified but he soon came to terms that travelling is quite stressful. Yeah right!
We met two French guys Ben and Fred, who we have got really friendly with Fred who lives in San Francisco and has offered us to stay with him when we venture over to San Francisco. He’s so clever, he’s a teacher who teaches physics, chemistry, Maths and Drama.
I have also noticed NZ sheep are not as clean as our sheep and their feet and their legs are the same colour as their bodies, where as our sheep have brown faces and brown legs.
Nathan and I have decided that if we were to move it would be to Wanaka!!!

Thurs 19th
We took our time getting up today as we didn’t get to bed until 1am as we were speaking to Fred.
It only took us 2 hours to get to Queenstown and that’s after stopping off at Arrowtown. Arrowtown has a lovely feel to it, it is very country and western and very cool.
We stopped and bought a Ferh burger that everyone has been raving about. I have to say they are splendid but are way too big really.
There is a gondola which goes up the top of the mountain of Queenstown and the heights are somewhat amazing!!! I just don’t get how the cable car doesn’t come away from the wire??At the top there is a ride called ‘The Luge’ this is like a go cart but without the motor. It was great fun coming down the mountain in this.
Also it is so much colder on the west coast as to the east.
After this we went and played crazy golf but inside. This was better than our crazy golf in Plymouth as the balls got taken up chair lifts as if they were on ski slopes and then they would come down a river and then at the end when you potted your last ball a lollypop would pop out for you from the candy factory. The whole thing was like a little model village.
We took a walk into town and found a bar called Monty’s, we got the recession deal, this was a glass of wine and a beer for GBP3.50. Fantastico!!
On our way walking home we found a food mart, this had all different types of food there. I had been fancying an Indian for ages so we shared an Indian with a naan bread. This only cost GBP6.50.
Since I have been travelling I have realized that we do not need to have the big portions that we(better off countries) have. I have much more enjoyed walking away from eating feeling full but not like I want to be sick and can’t move. We have both realized this and even when/if we buy a chocolate bar we shall buy one and share it. This is because at the start of our camper van travels we had a buy one get one free Kit Kat chunky each and we both felt sick after. Not nice!!
I am really missing salad, fruit and vegetables!
Nathan has seen the bungy he will be doing tomorrow. I might do it but I will see how I feel about the situation tomorrow, as there is a bungy at the top of Queenstown and I couldn’t even get to the edge of the bridge.

Fri 20th
Nath’s day to bungy! He booked himself in for 11am. He was trying to get me to do it but I was so scared and even just going to the edge of the bridge my feet were tingling and I froze!!
I took a video if him doing it, he did the most perfect jump ever, just like he had done it before. The guy asked him if he wanted to be dunked and he only wanted his fingers as the water was so cold.
When we picked his dvd and photos I started to really want to do it but I was so scared about the fact of having to walk to the edge of the platform - it even makes my feet tingle now! So, I thought, sod it, let do it, ‘ Nathan just pay so I can’t go back’. Uh oh I thought when he had booked it as we had to wait 45 minutes because they have safety breaks every so often just to check all the equipment is still ok?!
The time came, there was no going back now as you couldn’t get a refund. They dressed me in the harness and got me to sit in the cage by the ledge where I had to jump so they could get the towel around my legs and tie my legs together. This was scarier than the sky dive!! I shuffled my feet to the edge with both hand held tightly on the handle. I let one hand go and the guy said to me ‘ you have to let go’ I just couldn’t physically let go of the handle but he said to me before I stood up ‘ the best advice I can give you is, do this as quick as possible and it won’t seem half as bad. By this time I had my hand over my face nearly crying and nearly asking him to forget it all but he carried on counting down from 5. So on 1 I jumped. OMG what a feeling falling so close to the water and going at such a speed. I said I wanted my hand dunked but this didn’t happen. When Nathan met me he said that the spectators couldn’t believe I didn’t scream when I jumped off and sighed when I didn’t get dunked. They thought I would scream but I was too scared to make any noise or show any emotion. Both of us shook for a while after doing it. Although I must say I would do it all over again!!
We are now on our way to Lake Tekapo.

Sat 21st
Today we went for a walk around Mount John, this was stunning scenery with the Lake as blue as you like and the mountains white as they come. This took all day and we were tired and couldn’t wait to get in the hot pools that were next to the campsite. They were not natural but they were hot!
On our way to the shop we came across a park with a tractor in and a see saw. We laughed so much, about the fact we couldn’t get on the see saw and the fact we were 25 and having so much fun. Oh, it was so funny as I kept bumping Nathan off of his seat. He he

Sun 22nd
We travelled to Christchurch today, we took the scenic route so it took longer than if we had taken the road through Ashburton.
It was about time we had some vegetables and especially as we were going back into the noodle diet in three days- the start of Fiji, so I did a roast chicken, It was lovely although we are having the rest tmrw with salmon.
Nathan missing watching the news and I am starting to get quite sad that our NZ trip is nearly done : (. We have had the time of our loves in NZ….. love it!!!
OMG, it is a sign, Nathan is getting old, he misses watching the news and he has grey hairs!!! Ha ha ha

Mon 23rd
We had a lazy day in town today. We sorted our accommodation for Fiji. We go to four different islands and to the main island Nadi. All of our excursions, transfers, food and accommodation is included in the price we paid. We paid 1158 GBP for the both of us for 10 day/nights. There is no way you could have done that cheaper!

Tues 24th
Today we sorted the van out, sorted our bags and bought Nathan some insect repellant and itchy cream as we have been told there are loads of biting bugs. Also we picked our tickets for our holiday whilst we are in Fiji. This time tmrw night we shall be in a nice hot country. Amazing.
I really don’t get when people say NZ is 20 years behind because what we have seen some of the places are really up and coming. I think the people choose not to be ‘with the times’. The only thing is central heating.

Wed 25th
Flying to Fiji today so a very bitty morning. Spoke to the folks as I won’t get to speak to them for 10 days as there isn’t any internet, phones or even the electric is turned off at certain times of the day on the Fijian islands.
We bought a snorkel and mask, advised by the travel agent as the ones they use on the islands can be a bit discusting.
Ha ha we are sat in the airport and Nathan has just reminded me that the last time we got in a plane was to jump out of one. Well at least I would be all prepared for it, just head back, legs back, hold on and smile. Lol

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Comments

[gail clark]

Hello!
What a great time you are having oh to be young again! Life in Plymouth much the same you are not missing anything keep having fun! Love Gailx

[corriandnath]

Thanks Gail, we are havinga fab time! have you been to Positano's lately? Hope your all ok? Love Corrine xx