New Zealand!!

Hello from Christchurch!!

We'll here we are, a couple more hours in New Zealand and then we're off to Fiji!!!
Its been three and a half really fun weeks driving around in our spaceship, sleeping in some of the randomest and most beatiful places (such as next to Lake Wanaka, Stunning!)

New Zealand has soo much to offer as we found out from visiting Seal Colonies in Kiakura, climbing up the Franz Josef Glacier, Skydiving from 15,000ft over Lake Wanaka, Queenstown!! Bungee Jumping! and Surfing in Dunieden. We've really enjoyed ourselves here, having the freedom to go where we want and see what we want. It's good to have that freedom and attempt to get away from the usual tourist route and really make a trip our own.

Most of the things we have done here should definately be at the top of your list to do before you die. The day of the Skydive I have never been so scared!! I was soo nervous and im not entirely sure why loking back at it. (this shows in my dvd) but with nerves came soo much fun. It was such a good feeling except for the fast it was soo soo cold.

In New Zealand the place to be is definately Queenstown, theres soo much to do! One evening we all went to the 'world bar' and we entered a compettion to win a bungee jump and I was lucky enough to have my number drawn out of the hat. So I won a free nevis jump (the biggest in New Zealand) which was a big saver as I would have spent $220 on this the previous day!! While in Queenstown I was lucky enough to do 2 bungee jumps. 1) was a tandem with stu off the Kawara Bridge (i think thats how u spell it) well anyway, this was the first commercial bungee jump in the world which was really really fun. We were both quite ok until we got to the ledge and though what are we doing! We jumped anyway and it was sucha good feeling, the adrenaline rush is soo much fun. 2) The Nevis, Stu was nervous because this time it was 3times the size of the day before! 8 seconds freefall. Chris and Mike were both excited hiding both their nerves. I really couldnt wait to do it. Everyone should try this, seriosly one of the most fun things ever, you really do have to push urself to go over the edge but when you do it such a good feeling, the whole day i was pretty much speachless!!

So next stop on our Journey is Fiji!! We really look forward to getting back to the hot weather and onto a beach. Its really tiring moving about all the time here and we need a holiday! I think I may do my dive course out there which I'm really looking forward to!

All my recent photos are now up so i'f you have time on your hands heres the link.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/gapyear2008/NewZealandLakeWanakaToChristchurch

Christchurch to Franz Joseph Glacier (life in a spaceship)

Hey all from the wonderful Franz Joseph Glacier (located west of the south island).

We have been traveling through New Zealand for about a week in our Spaceship (camper van car) named 'Megatron'. It's just what we needed, we are far away from the tour bus, touristy areas, we can finally be free!! The past week we have mainly been hiking in some fantastic locations, camping in some really random places and watching DVD's in our Spaceship. Today we were lucky enough to climb up the Franz Joseph Glacier, It was amasing! Something I was very keen to do here in New Zealand! You will have to check out the photos, it was stunning!! 6hours of hard work climbing up the ice was well worth the view and the opportunity to climb through the ice sheets. We've been to some very cool destinations including Chetwood Forest which was included in the Lord of the Rings film. Theres not all that much more to say about New Zealand but WOW the scenery is breathtaking and were having a really good time despite it being really really cold. The pictures are much much better than words so go and have a look. On Tuesday we plan to get to Lake Wanaka, Chris and i are very keen to do the 15,000ft skydive there so I think we will be booking that tonight. Really loving New Zealand but looking forward to being back on the beach. Ohh and by the way my eye has healed fine, the stitches came out a couple of days ago and you wouldnt know a thing.

i'll do my best to keep you all posted, but internet is proving rare in some places.

Go check out the photos!!

AJ.xxxxx