The Waitomo Glowworm Caves were awe-inspiring.... In the darkness of the caves it seemed just as though I was laying under a starry sky... I managed to get some good photos, but have left them back at the hostel... will upload them as soon as I get the chance... As well as the tubing, the abseiling and rock climbing was also fun but I have to admit that I am covered in bruises now... Taking it easy is definitely the name of the game, at least for the next few days anyway :o/
Have managed to get my way back to Auckland by hitching a lift with Steve from Bournmouth, thanx Steve.
Not sure what I'm gonna do next... The friends that I made in Auckland previously are have got another gig this weekend, so I will probably hang around for that the maybe head off to Fiji or even the States earlier...
Keep an eye on the space for updates
Hope all is well with you guys
xx
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Buckle Bunnies Beware
Ok so the last time I wrote, I think I was going on about taking it easy for a few days 'cos the girls had left to go to Oz and I was on my own again... Or something like that?!
Boy was I wrong... ;o)
I met a Cowgirl... that’s right an authentic Kiwi Cowgirl. She'd been out with me and the girls and the rest of the 'Base backpacker' gang on Jo and Khirsty's final night, and no sooner had the girls left the following day I had a call from Shannon (Cowgirl) asking me if I wanted to join her on a 2 day road trip... we went to the Nature Reserve and Wildlife Park just outside of Christchurch we're I amused everyone by screaming at a pouncing cheetah shortly followed by almost falling out of Shannon’s car... I use the word 'car' very loosely :o/ We then drove to Hanmer Springs to chill out in the spa's there.
Anyway we hit it off and Shannon invited me to join her and her boyfriend Cowboy Cain for a Rodeo weekend in the South Island... How could I refuse...
We picked Cain up from the airport and hit Winchester for the first Rodeo... it was fantastic... lots of sun, fun, and beer... Those Cowboys sure know how to drink.
The second Rodeo of the season was the bigger of the 2 and was held in Methvan, it was packed, as was the town, I've never seen so many cowboy hats in my life... We partied hard and listened to lots of country music... I tried to learn the local etiquette as best I could... I think Shan may make a Cowgirl out of me yet ;o)
I have to say a massive thanx to Shan and Cain for not only taking me to the Rodeo, but for letting me & Mick (The Monkey) hitch a lift all the way back to Hamilton with them, and for them putting me up at their lovely hilltop farm home in Raglan... Raglan is beautiful.
Cheers Guys
Going to Waitomo Glowworm Caves this weekend to do some Blackwater Rafting, Caving & Abseiling (apparently down some waterfalls) should be challenging... or interesting if I have anything to do with it.
From a chilled out Sity in Hamilton...
xx
Boy was I wrong... ;o)
I met a Cowgirl... that’s right an authentic Kiwi Cowgirl. She'd been out with me and the girls and the rest of the 'Base backpacker' gang on Jo and Khirsty's final night, and no sooner had the girls left the following day I had a call from Shannon (Cowgirl) asking me if I wanted to join her on a 2 day road trip... we went to the Nature Reserve and Wildlife Park just outside of Christchurch we're I amused everyone by screaming at a pouncing cheetah shortly followed by almost falling out of Shannon’s car... I use the word 'car' very loosely :o/ We then drove to Hanmer Springs to chill out in the spa's there.
Anyway we hit it off and Shannon invited me to join her and her boyfriend Cowboy Cain for a Rodeo weekend in the South Island... How could I refuse...
We picked Cain up from the airport and hit Winchester for the first Rodeo... it was fantastic... lots of sun, fun, and beer... Those Cowboys sure know how to drink.
The second Rodeo of the season was the bigger of the 2 and was held in Methvan, it was packed, as was the town, I've never seen so many cowboy hats in my life... We partied hard and listened to lots of country music... I tried to learn the local etiquette as best I could... I think Shan may make a Cowgirl out of me yet ;o)
I have to say a massive thanx to Shan and Cain for not only taking me to the Rodeo, but for letting me & Mick (The Monkey) hitch a lift all the way back to Hamilton with them, and for them putting me up at their lovely hilltop farm home in Raglan... Raglan is beautiful.
Cheers Guys
Going to Waitomo Glowworm Caves this weekend to do some Blackwater Rafting, Caving & Abseiling (apparently down some waterfalls) should be challenging... or interesting if I have anything to do with it.
From a chilled out Sity in Hamilton...
xx
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Kicking Queenstown
Queenstown was pretty mad...
I hiked up to one of the look outs to see some stunning views of the city as well as have a couple of goes on the hill side Luge ride, take in a Maori show and the sky gondola... apart from that there isn't much else to do in Queenstown except of course all the extreme activities and then there is always drinking, which I am ashamed to say I did quite a lot of...
In fact yesterday we started at midday and hit all the happy hours for all the pubs in Queenstown... finishing at 3am .. hmmm.. no wonder I am feeling a little rundown...
I wasn't a complete waster though I did manage to take in a trip to Te Anau and Milford Sounds... it left Queenstown at 6.30 am and I can't believe that I actually made it, neither could anyone else. It was definitely worth it though the scenery on there and on the way was breathtaking... Whoever said that NZ was a beautiful wasn't kidding...
We managed to take in a few famous sites, including some of the locations used in 'The Lord of the Rings' films... Standing under the waterfall had to be the highlight of the day though... it literally took my breath away.
Arrived in Christchurch yesterday after a 7 hour drive through the center of the South Isalnd and the stunning banks of Lake Tekapo, dropped off the campervan and have basically been sleeping since then... It's Jo and Khisty's last night in NZ today so there is no way that I am going to get away with another night off... Plus the Kiwi bus has just turned up.... ;o)
I'm planning on staying in Christchurch for a week... have managed to score a few nights free accommodation and plan on just chilling out, getting a plan of action together and getting myself back on my feet...
From Christchurch...
xx
I hiked up to one of the look outs to see some stunning views of the city as well as have a couple of goes on the hill side Luge ride, take in a Maori show and the sky gondola... apart from that there isn't much else to do in Queenstown except of course all the extreme activities and then there is always drinking, which I am ashamed to say I did quite a lot of...
In fact yesterday we started at midday and hit all the happy hours for all the pubs in Queenstown... finishing at 3am .. hmmm.. no wonder I am feeling a little rundown...
I wasn't a complete waster though I did manage to take in a trip to Te Anau and Milford Sounds... it left Queenstown at 6.30 am and I can't believe that I actually made it, neither could anyone else. It was definitely worth it though the scenery on there and on the way was breathtaking... Whoever said that NZ was a beautiful wasn't kidding...
We managed to take in a few famous sites, including some of the locations used in 'The Lord of the Rings' films... Standing under the waterfall had to be the highlight of the day though... it literally took my breath away.
Arrived in Christchurch yesterday after a 7 hour drive through the center of the South Isalnd and the stunning banks of Lake Tekapo, dropped off the campervan and have basically been sleeping since then... It's Jo and Khisty's last night in NZ today so there is no way that I am going to get away with another night off... Plus the Kiwi bus has just turned up.... ;o)
I'm planning on staying in Christchurch for a week... have managed to score a few nights free accommodation and plan on just chilling out, getting a plan of action together and getting myself back on my feet...
From Christchurch...
xx
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Seal Attack
The past week has been a bit fly by the seats of our camper....
We pretty much killed the North Island and are well and truly conquering the South...
After a breathtaking channel crossing we hit Kiakoura, where we had some close encounters with Seals and Sea Gulls... I basically got chased around the car park by a ferrule seal, it has got to be one of the sacriest and funniest things to have happened to me in NZ... I think everyone else found it quite amusing too, seeing as they were all in hysterics, you should have seen the look on my face... Priceless... Walked along the stunning coastline and took in the fresh sea breeze before making our way across the Island via Hanmer Springs, Lewis Pass and a Southern Alps snow storm on our way to Franz Josef and our Glacier Hike.
The Glacier Hike was stunning spent 8 hours on the ice caving, tunneling and hiking... got some great pics.
We then headed further south down through Fox Glacier, Haast and Wanaka to Queenstown where we roughed it for our first night and have decided to check into a hostel so we can prep ourselves for a wild weekend... The 'Stray' gang are hot on our tails and should be arriving here tonight so it's gonna get rather messy... I'm loving Queenstown... It's a small town with a city feel.... right up my street.
Not sure what activities we are gonna do here, but the 'Canyon Swing' and the 'Shotover Rafting' looks great...
Watch this space..
p.s. - Wanted to give the BIGGEST SHOUT OUT EVER to Emma and Craig for their wedding day on Saturday 14th, for me that is tomorrow.... Have an awesome day you crazy kidz
My love to the rest of the family too... Have a couple of vinos for me
xx
We pretty much killed the North Island and are well and truly conquering the South...
After a breathtaking channel crossing we hit Kiakoura, where we had some close encounters with Seals and Sea Gulls... I basically got chased around the car park by a ferrule seal, it has got to be one of the sacriest and funniest things to have happened to me in NZ... I think everyone else found it quite amusing too, seeing as they were all in hysterics, you should have seen the look on my face... Priceless... Walked along the stunning coastline and took in the fresh sea breeze before making our way across the Island via Hanmer Springs, Lewis Pass and a Southern Alps snow storm on our way to Franz Josef and our Glacier Hike.
The Glacier Hike was stunning spent 8 hours on the ice caving, tunneling and hiking... got some great pics.
We then headed further south down through Fox Glacier, Haast and Wanaka to Queenstown where we roughed it for our first night and have decided to check into a hostel so we can prep ourselves for a wild weekend... The 'Stray' gang are hot on our tails and should be arriving here tonight so it's gonna get rather messy... I'm loving Queenstown... It's a small town with a city feel.... right up my street.
Not sure what activities we are gonna do here, but the 'Canyon Swing' and the 'Shotover Rafting' looks great...
Watch this space..
p.s. - Wanted to give the BIGGEST SHOUT OUT EVER to Emma and Craig for their wedding day on Saturday 14th, for me that is tomorrow.... Have an awesome day you crazy kidz
My love to the rest of the family too... Have a couple of vinos for me
xx
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Windy Welly
In Wellington at the moment and so far it's been rather interesting... Couldn't find a camp site close to town so ended up parking the van up on the road and sleeping in it there... not good when you work out in the morning that you have been sleeping on some council housing estate!!!
Great... :o/
Anyway treated ourselves to a hostel for the past 2 nights and it's been absolute bliss... We have been hot of the tails of the 'Stray' bus and have been hanging out with the crown from Taupo again... Hoping to meet up with them again in the South. Last night was a bit messy, but we we're celebrating our awesome sky dive and also the fact that we managed to survive the night out on the streets not to mention a whole week in the campervan... yeeehaaa!
Heading South tomorrow to Picton not sure what the plan is from there, but all I know is that it's gonna get even colder... have had to purchase gloves, hats and a new coat... trendy!
Took in the sites of Wellington today via the Cable cart, Botanical Gardens and The Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa... very interesting... learnt lots about the history of NZ
From Welly...
xx
Great... :o/
Anyway treated ourselves to a hostel for the past 2 nights and it's been absolute bliss... We have been hot of the tails of the 'Stray' bus and have been hanging out with the crown from Taupo again... Hoping to meet up with them again in the South. Last night was a bit messy, but we we're celebrating our awesome sky dive and also the fact that we managed to survive the night out on the streets not to mention a whole week in the campervan... yeeehaaa!
Heading South tomorrow to Picton not sure what the plan is from there, but all I know is that it's gonna get even colder... have had to purchase gloves, hats and a new coat... trendy!
Took in the sites of Wellington today via the Cable cart, Botanical Gardens and The Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa... very interesting... learnt lots about the history of NZ
From Welly...
xx
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
EZY Travels
So the girls and I have been on the road since Auckland...
It's been rather cosy the three of us in a two birth campervan, but at least we haven't been getting cold, and it's been a great laugh.
We headed up to the Bay of Islands after leaving X Base Backpackers and my semi-final ,in the pool competition, (much to the dismay of all the men involved), where we took a boat around the bay and did some awesome Dolphin Watching as well as taking in the sites of the famous 'Cod Hole'?!
We then headed south to Rotorua where we spent the day bathing in the volcanic natural spa's, soaking up the Maori culture, and watched the beautiful lakes pass by on our journey even further south to Taupo, the out adventure capital of the North Island. We have booked ourselves on a sky dive for tomorrow, and even though I have been there before, I must admit that I am feeling rather anxious.... Guess I'll give you an update after the event... If I make it through alive!
It's pretty tricky to get to an internet terminal when you're on the road, especially when you are staying on campsites, sometimes without electricity let alone a computer?!
The general plan is to carry on traveling South... To Turangi to do the 'Mokai fox free fall - 180m high at 160kph' then to Wellington and Picton and so on and so on.... We're planning on doing a major sporting activity in each place we visit... Black water rafting sounds quite cool and so does the Zorbing, but we'll have to wait and see if our nerves will be able to cope with the New Zealand sensory overload.
Missing home loads this week... Emma's wedding is coming up soon... Hopefully I'll get sent some good pics...
Till the next time...
xx
It's been rather cosy the three of us in a two birth campervan, but at least we haven't been getting cold, and it's been a great laugh.
We headed up to the Bay of Islands after leaving X Base Backpackers and my semi-final ,in the pool competition, (much to the dismay of all the men involved), where we took a boat around the bay and did some awesome Dolphin Watching as well as taking in the sites of the famous 'Cod Hole'?!
We then headed south to Rotorua where we spent the day bathing in the volcanic natural spa's, soaking up the Maori culture, and watched the beautiful lakes pass by on our journey even further south to Taupo, the out adventure capital of the North Island. We have booked ourselves on a sky dive for tomorrow, and even though I have been there before, I must admit that I am feeling rather anxious.... Guess I'll give you an update after the event... If I make it through alive!
It's pretty tricky to get to an internet terminal when you're on the road, especially when you are staying on campsites, sometimes without electricity let alone a computer?!
The general plan is to carry on traveling South... To Turangi to do the 'Mokai fox free fall - 180m high at 160kph' then to Wellington and Picton and so on and so on.... We're planning on doing a major sporting activity in each place we visit... Black water rafting sounds quite cool and so does the Zorbing, but we'll have to wait and see if our nerves will be able to cope with the New Zealand sensory overload.
Missing home loads this week... Emma's wedding is coming up soon... Hopefully I'll get sent some good pics...
Till the next time...
xx
Sunday, October 01, 2006
A Random Sequence of Events
So far Auckland has been great...
As usual have met some fantastic people... Kiwi's are just as great as Ozzy's although I fear that they would be offended to hear it.
It has been pretty much downhill since I landed in Auckland and got chatting toa couple of Irish lads (Dan & Rob) who talked me into coming to stay at their backpackers (seeing as I didn't have a clue where I was going)... 'Irish'... say's it all!!!
I also met a couple of girls from Manchester (Jo & Chirsty) who are in the process of picking up a campervan to drive to Christchurch over the next 3 weeks... we hit it off soooo well, that they have asked me to join them on their travels... so I will be on the road for the next 3 weeks... Not sure how this whole camping thing works, but I'm sure I'll suss it out eventually. The girls have just arrived from Fiji where they actually made friends with some guy's from Auckland. We hung out with them over the weekend at the 'Auckland Sea Food Festival'... good music, good food and good company. The lads invited us to a couple of house party's this weekend, which we hit hard and then I even managed to make it to 'The Sunday Session' where I went to watch their band play... I have to admit they are pretty good!!!
As far as the touristy things go, I haven't really done much apart from The Auckland Museum, The Sky Tower and the Sea Food Festival. I've been focusing my attentions of mixing it up with the locals, and I think I've done a good job, even if I do say so myself... who said Aucklanders were stuck up?!
From Auckland...
p.s. I managed to put a nights work in at the backpackers I am staying at too, for room and board... First days work in 6 monts... almost killed me... Oh yeah, was my 6 month anniversary of being on the road yesterday... Can't belive I've made it this far!!!
xx
As usual have met some fantastic people... Kiwi's are just as great as Ozzy's although I fear that they would be offended to hear it.
It has been pretty much downhill since I landed in Auckland and got chatting toa couple of Irish lads (Dan & Rob) who talked me into coming to stay at their backpackers (seeing as I didn't have a clue where I was going)... 'Irish'... say's it all!!!
I also met a couple of girls from Manchester (Jo & Chirsty) who are in the process of picking up a campervan to drive to Christchurch over the next 3 weeks... we hit it off soooo well, that they have asked me to join them on their travels... so I will be on the road for the next 3 weeks... Not sure how this whole camping thing works, but I'm sure I'll suss it out eventually. The girls have just arrived from Fiji where they actually made friends with some guy's from Auckland. We hung out with them over the weekend at the 'Auckland Sea Food Festival'... good music, good food and good company. The lads invited us to a couple of house party's this weekend, which we hit hard and then I even managed to make it to 'The Sunday Session' where I went to watch their band play... I have to admit they are pretty good!!!
As far as the touristy things go, I haven't really done much apart from The Auckland Museum, The Sky Tower and the Sea Food Festival. I've been focusing my attentions of mixing it up with the locals, and I think I've done a good job, even if I do say so myself... who said Aucklanders were stuck up?!
From Auckland...
p.s. I managed to put a nights work in at the backpackers I am staying at too, for room and board... First days work in 6 monts... almost killed me... Oh yeah, was my 6 month anniversary of being on the road yesterday... Can't belive I've made it this far!!!
xx
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