Monday, June 05, 2006

Brown trousers at the ready, Taupo, North Island

More meat for the grinder. The adrenalin hungry Kiwis finally got their man and Fowler signed up to jump out of a mechanically sound plane at 12000ft. Fowler will be able to give an accurate description of the experience once he stops rocking back and forth in a darkened room. Needless to say it was just amazing - and gave a superb view of lake taupo and the mountains nearby volcanoes. Posted by Picasa

Emerald Lakes, Tongariro Crossing

Lots of nasty sulphorous gasses being released around here - a bit like the changeing rooms at Warden Park School. Posted by Picasa

Mount Doom (no really), Tongariro Nat Park, North Island

Dee climbed this little puppy and slid back down again on the loose scree slopes. Fowler went to have a look at some of the other volcanic craters and lakes. Posted by Picasa

Heading from the South to the North Island on the ferry

I think this is the Tory channel but I'm not 100%. The boat is another large car ferry giving an idea of the scale of the channel. Posted by Picasa

Wine tasting around Marlborough, South Island

This region of NZ is famous for its Sauvignon Blancs. While pondering the fabulous honeysuckle and gooseberry on the nose of this cheeky little wine, Fowler realised all the vineyard staff were laughing at him. Posted by Picasa

The Super 14 Final in Christchurch

As you can imagine this final was named the 'Pea Souper 14' after a very dense fog descended before the match. It lost something as a spectacle unfortunately but was still worth a look(as long as the ball was on our side of the pitch). Posted by Picasa

Dusky Dolphins, Kaikoura, South Island

These chaps like doing flips and acrobatics. Posted by Picasa

Lunch on the Sound

Milford Sound is actually a fjord apprently. Posted by Picasa

Sea kayaking, Milford Sound, South Island

Simply majestic (and thats just Dee's wooly hat) - Milford Sound was beautiful and the weather was unusually sunny - they have something like 6 metres of rain a year here. Highlights included the safety briefing on the water where one of the guides was upstaged as a fur seal glided past - the first of many.Fowler commented 'this is the best 30 quid Ive ever spent on an activity like this'.

Camping was another frosty affair as the temperature plummeted in the evening! Posted by Picasa

Ball Shelter, Mount Cook Nat Park

Home for the night and also home to a very feisty Kea bird (pictured on top of the shelter) that caused mayhem in the morning. Even though the Kea is a mountain bird it is actually part of the Parrot family and acts accordingly. Posted by Picasa

Ball Shelter and the Czechs next to the Tasman Glacier

There is a huge drop next to the hut straight down to the glacier - handy to know when you're walking around in the dark trying to find the privy. Posted by Picasa