New Zealand Fiordland

Currently in Omarama on our way to Christchurch ready to come home. Clay Cliffs in Omarama. Also known for aircraft gliding. Tomorrow we hope to watch these planes in flight.
Queenstown - home of the bungy. We were too chicken to give it a go.

View from the gondola in Queenstown. Looking down on to Queenstown bay with the Remarkables in the background.

Last 2 days we have had an experience of a lifetime. An overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound.

Steve bravely swam in the icy waters. We went kayaking, met a mixed bag of people from many nationalities, ate lots of delicious food. Well worth the money.

Our amazing adventures this week - description

Wow! Do we love New Zealand. Firstly I apologise if I repeat myself from my previous blog.
The pics show the amazing wineries. The Encounter Dolphin swim that Steve braved. The Omaka Aviation Centre in Bleinheim. This exhibition from Peter Jackson (film producer) collection housed in hangers was very interesting and informative. WWI planes, uniforms, badges. I would not have thought we'd take almost 3 hours to do this.

Helicopter ride to the top of the glaciers. Worth every cent. Spectacular views of both Franz Josef and Fox glaciers and Mt Tasman. Too windy to see Mt Cook though. Did a snow landing, more like ice landing. Not cold nor windy. Truly amazing.

From Tasman sea we drove inland to Wanaka. Went to Cinema Paradiso. This cinema in a hall like a large lounge room. Patrons sit in old couches, eat popcorn drink wine. Heaps of fun :)

Currently in Queenstown. The town of the thrill seeking and adventure. Today did the jetboat on Shotover River. Steve loved it. I was marginally terrified. Thankfully survived it. Then went whitewater rafting. Lots of fun too. Tomorrow hope to do the gondola and luging once again.

Our accommodation in Queenstown has been luxurious. Last night stayed in the St Moritz. Tonight the Mercure. Both overlook Lake Waitikupa (think that's how you spell it). On our last week of the trip. It will be very sad to leave such a stunning country. Hello to everyone.

Our amazing adventure this week in pics

Saturday 3 January

I've jumped ahead a little. Tonight Steve and I are staying in a backpackers called Glow Worm Cottages, Franz Josef. I'm not sure how to use their Internet facility so I am just going to wing it. Also, because I am taking pics on high resolution they just take for ever to down load. The picture to the left is of Steve on the shore of the Tasman Sea, West Coast, South Island. The pebbles in New Zealand are beautiful. From Rotorua we traveled to Wellington. We loved Wellington. Very Mediteranean. The Te Papa (museum) was so informative. We took a tram car to their Botanical Gardens. They were beautiful too.

We flew from north to south island over the Cook Strait. As a surprise I booked the co-pilot seat for Steven on the 12 seater plane. He was chuffed and thoroughly enjoyed sitting next to the pilot and watching him at work. The views of Marlborough Sound were awesome. I hope to post them when I can find an Internet service I can work with.

When on the north island we had New Years in the Marlborough wine region. We hired bikes and pedalled our way around the wineries. It was ever so windy and with a few wines in our belly it was a wobbly ride back to the motel. We ate in an Italian/Seafood restaurant dining on scallops and mussels. Didn't see midnight though.

New Years day we drove along the Pacific Ocean coast to Kaikouri. I'd organised another surprise for Steve. A swim with dusky dolphins. We took a boat and traveled 20 mins out to sea until the skipper found a pod of dolphins. There were 100's of them. Steve slid himself off the back of the boat and was surrounded by the most playful water creatures I have ever seen. I'm thrilled he had such a great time. It was magnificent watching the dolphins jump, somersault and glide beside him. When I find good fast facilities I will post the pics.

January 2 we drove inland to Hanmer Springs for a dip in the natural thermal pools in an alpine region. We had our first experience in a backpackers. Steve found it a little weird sharing a house and bathroom facilities with strangers. But they were all cool with it and we survived.

We are having a ball!!!! There is so much excitement, adventure and indulgence in New Zealand. Every other moment their is something different to see. I am exhausted. I don't want to miss a moment. So I'm in bed late and up early. It does not get dark until 9.30 here.

We are currently in Franz Josef the glacier region of the Westland. Unbelievable. We are in t shirts and shorts yet not far away are mountains covered in ice and snow. Tomorrow we hope to helicopter up to the summit of Fox Glacier and Mt Cook with a snow landing. I'll sign off now and trying to add some pics. Thanks for reading I hope to add some more of our exciting adventure.

To the right Franz Josef glacier (awesome!)

Sunday 28 December

Gosh we have been busy. So much excitement, adventure and indulgence. Pics here are from the Hangi Maori feast in Rotorua. A natural thermal hot spring and a spring we swam in that fed into Lake Taupo. Huka Falls were amazing.

Saturday 27 December

Rotorua from the gondola. Went luging as well. Loads of fun. Once is never enough.

Gotta Go.....have a plane to catch to South Island soooooo watch this space.

Boxing Day 26 December 2008

Today we took the Sky Tower to take a birds eye view of Auckland. A must see!

We drove to the north coast to experience the surf beaches. The sand is volcanic ash black and the water icy cold.
This coast is home to the gannet bird family. An elegant bird that thrives in the wind and the ocean. They are a lovable bird that adores courtship and when they find a mate it is a relationship that lasts a live time (a bit like steve and I....hehehehe)