Queenstown and our biggest falling out.......of an aircraft!

Well we've only gone and done it! This morning we were up early (due to the cold or the fear) and had a hearty breakfast before heading into town to the NZONE skydive centre. We had a briefing and signed various forms and a special one for wanting to dive at 15,000 feet! After watching the video explaining what was about to happen we boarded the minibus which took us to the airfield some 20 minutes away!

On arrival Mark was very quiet and due to his 'worry genes' went through everything that could go wrong in his mind! Rach was a perfect example of calmness! Within minutes our names were called and we were kitted out with the jumpsuit, harness, gloves and hat. We had brought a small rucksack with us and were asked to put it in a locker - Mark picked number 13 unknowningly but changed to number 3 quickly! We were then given another briefing on how we would leave the aircraft before meeting our jumpmasters. Tom looked after Mark and Marius looked after Rach. Mark had been told that Tom's parachute didn't open on his first jump this morning - Mark was delighted and Tom confirmed it was true later after this one opened!

Before we knew it we boarded the aircraft within two others who were jumping at 9,000 feet. The plane journey took about 5 minutes before the first two were thrown out! We then climbed further up to 16,200 feet above sea level. The door opened and Mark was first to go followed by Rach 30 seconds later.

The sense of leaving a perfectly serviceable aircraft is bizarre as you fall below it! But then after the sensory overload has washed away all you have is the stunning 360 degree views around you. You don't feel like your falling just flying! We were so lucky as there wasn't a cloud in the sky and you could see Mt Cook some 400km away! As we reached 5,000 feet the parachute opened and we then spent the next five minutes taking in more of the scenery! This was the one bit Rach didn't like so much as when we spun into land she felt a bit sick - or was it just the adrenaline?

Mark was down first and watched Rach land safely. A truely incredible experience and as ever Mark was the one buzzing the most after being such a prophet of doom earlier in the day!

It's hard to think of an experience like it and it remains to be seen whether we'll ever do a skydive again and plummet towards the ground at 200km/hr (Terminal velocity)??!!

Tonight we're going out for a celebration curry and a few beers!

Love to all at home.

Mark & Rach. xxx

PS:

I must not fear, fear is the mind killer.

Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

(Frank Herbert) - he never skydived!

Walking up Franz Josef Glacier

Yesterday was an early start and a carb filled breakfast ready for our all day adventure up the Franz Josef Glacier. We arrived at the trek centre around 9am and got kitted out with boots, crampons, socks and jacket etc. Then we boarded the bus which took us to the bottom of the glacier. Arriving at the site we were put into groups depending on what speed you'd like to go and of course we wanted the fastest No1! The Glacier was far more impressive then Fox Glacier and as we stood on the river bed next to the car park and the start of our walk we were asked how far away the glacier looked - we reckoned 1km, in fact it was over 2.5km away!

When we arrived at the front of the glacier (terminal) we were again split into smaller groups - fortunately we'd been chatting to our guide (he used to be a mechanic in Bury St Edmunds - wonder why he's here now!) so we got in the lead group - fresh terrain to explore!

Getting up onto the glacier was the hardest part especially getting used to the cramp-ons (or clamp-ons as Rach called them!). Surprisingly it was still pretty warm but as we gained height it did get a bit colder, especially when having to touch the ice to keep your balance. The guide took us through the large crevasses that had been formed and you were in a world of blue clear ice standing 30 metres above you at times. We stopped occasionally for the guide to go and explore ahead trying to find new things to look at. About half way up he'd spotted a large ice tunnel that was safe to go through. It was tight at times and we had to take off our rucksacks to get through - pot-holing in the glacier - amazing! The tunnel was about 15 metres long and it took us into another large crack heading up. We reached the highest point of our trip around 2pm after trekking for 3 hours to get there. We got up to about 650 metres and the views looking back down the valley were incredible. Sitting on top of glacier having lunch we felt so lucky to experience something like this. Luckily the weather held off and as we ventured back down the clouds were there but no rain. On the way down we were again taken through some tight spots along the ridges and allowed to explore some more ice tunnels. We got off the glacier around 5pm so we spent a good 6 hours exploring - totally worth it! We all felt pretty tired and were looking forward to getting back to the campsite for a cup of tea and a ginger nut biscuit!

Yet again another fantastic day in New Zealand and to top it off Rach and I went to the glacier hot pools after going back to the campsite. It was a great place to rest and soak our tired bodies - they had three large hot tubs all at different temperatures (36, 38 & 40C) and we relaxed in the heated glacial water for about an hour or so before heading back. Last night we had a simple but tasty meal of potato wedges and veggie chilli with a glass of red.

Today we're heading to Queeenstown, about a 5 hour drive.

Love to all at home and hope things are good.

Mark & Rach. xxx

Lake Matheson & Fox Glacier

This morning we woke to fantastic blue sky and a breathtaking view! To make the most of the day before the cloud came in we went to Lake Matheson, a 30 minute drive from Franz Josef. The walk took around an hour and the views of Mount Cook were staggering! We stopped on every corner taking pictures thinking that the last one would be the best but no, there was always a better spot!

We then ventured up to Fox Glacier, another 30 minute walk. We weren't allowed to get any closer than 80 metres but it was still very impressive (the sheer size of it) and made us really excited about our guided trip tomorrow on Franz Josef Glacier. The air quality here is so different to anywhere we've been to so far and most definitely fresher than Watford! The downside to being here though is the temperature at night and Rach is now wearing socks, fleece and trousers in bed! Her nose still gets cold though and she thought she had frostbite this morning!!

We will post another blog tomorrow after our trip up the Glacier and maybe a trip to the glacier hotpools afterwards to soak the cold & aching joints!

Love to all.

Mark & Rach. xxx

Westport and Franz Josef arrival

We left Abel Tasman basking in glorious sunshine on Friday morning - typical when we've got a day in the car! We did however have a couple of stops on route to our next destination - Westport. The first stop was at a lake called Rotoroa Lake where we had some lunch. The views were really stunning but slightly spoilt by the millions of midges swarming us for a feed. We got a couple of quick snaps and then opted for lunch in the car to avoid becoming lunch ourselves! We continued our journey stopping off at Buller Gorge where we walked across the very long swingbridge. It was really narrow making it difficult to pass others - one woman looked petrified and didn't want to let go of the rail! On arrival at Westport it was quite windy so we looked for a sheltered area to protect the tent (we have used all our spare poles now). The Geordies arrived shortly after us so that evening we chilled out in the camp kitchen playing cards and planning our next day.

Yesterday we were up fairly early and went to Tauranga Bay where we (plus the Geordies) did a 2 hour walk out to the seal colony and back. The weather was fantastic and the seals were basking on the rocks enjoying the sunshine as well. After having a picnic we went back into town and wanted to visit the local brewery for a tour and tasting. Unfortunately they were shut so we had to make do with a pint across the road in the local pub. Back at the campsite we spent the rest of the day by our tents chatting and enjoying the last of the rays. For dinner we had pancakes as we'd forgotten about Shrove Tuesday followed by a cheese board!

Today we packed up and headed for Franz Josef. The drive along the coast is considered to be one of the best drives for scenery and we weren't disappointed. The views across the unusual coastal rock formations (due to stylobedding - a weathering layer process) were up there with the Twelve Apostles. Turning inland the landscape began to change and we knew we were entering the 'Glacier Country'. This place is like Scotland on steroids! We arrived at the campsite late afternoon and after popping into town for some supplies we chilled with a cup of tea and watched the Winter Olympics on the TV - very lazy! Tomorrow we plan to go to Lake Matheson where you can walk around it and view the area in it's full glory. On Tuesday we're heading up to the glacier itself on a guided tour!

Hope all is good at home.

Love

Mark & Rach. xxx

PS - Travelling must be good for you - Mark got asked for his ID as the woman in the store thought he looked under 25!!

Abel Tasman National Park - Trek & Kayak

Today we were up early in order to get to Marahau to start our Abel Tasman adventure. We stayed at another Top 10 campsite in Motueka so it wasn't too far to drive. Unfortunately the sun was hidden by dark cloud and it looked unlikely that the weather would change but we were sure it would still be fun.

We took an Aqua Taxi 7km further up into the National Park and were dropped off in a place called Torrent Bay. From here we had to walk for around 2.5 hours to our lunchtime destination of Watering Cove. The walk took us around the coastal path which despite the weather was impressive. We did a slight detour to a place called Cleopatra's Pool, a small pool with a natural slide. The water wasn't high enough for us to slide down but that didn't really matter due to the temperature! We continued along the coast path until we arrived in Watering Cove where we had lunch before being briefed on kayak technique and safety drills. Soon we were on the open water heading towards an island (Adele Island) where we saw a small group of fur seals including 2 month old pups! It was a fantastic experience and quite lucky to see them really (at least one benefit due to the weather). Heading back towards the mainland we stopped in Stilwell Bay and had a much needed cup of tea and cookies! Back out on the water we made life easier for ourselves and bunched together in a raft formation and put up a temporary sail - we managed to use the wind for about 1km despite it taking us 45 minutes to cover the distance! It was a good time to chat to the others in our party including the 3 Geordies. The added bonus was the weather had improved and the sun was out and quite strong! When we reached Coquille Bay the wind died and we were back to using elbow gease and paddle power. We reached Marahau around 4pm feeling slightly tired but happy that the weather had changed for the better and we saw the true magnificance of Abel Tasman - a stunning area of natural beauty. New Zealand is by far the most beautiful place we've been to.

Returning to the campsite we popped into the local store for refreshment (leave that for decide what it was) and then showered, washing the salty feel off! Tonight we're having a BBQ with the Geordie lads and tomorrow will be heading to Westport to start on west coast journey.

We only have 3 weeks left on our travels but we will be making the most of it. Thanks for all your comments - not long now and you can stop (Frank - you'll have to work again!).

Love to all.

Mark & Rach. xxx

The South Island - Blenheim

We were up early on Sunday in order to catch the ferry from Wellington to Picton. The weather was the same as it has been for the last couple of days but at least it was dry so we had no hassles in packing up the tent. The crossing (Valentine Days Cruise!) took three hours - for most of it Rach slept while Mark 'acquired' some proper knifes and forks from the restaurant to replace the plastic ones we've had since Sydney! We arrived in the South Island to glorious sunshine which made us extremely happy. We picked up a car (Nissan Micra) from Quality Cars and headed towards Blenheim some 30km from Picton. During the journey we'd noticed that the passenger door window didn't work very well and there was a continous rattle up front!

Once we arrived at the campsite (a lovely little place by the river) we explored the town, did a spot of food shopping and went on a 'recce' mission around the vineyards of Marlborough. Back at the campsite we didn't think much of the car so phoned the company to get a replacement which they agreed to do but the following day. That night we had a romantic dinner of fajitas in the campsite kitchen - just the two of us (apart from occasionally being disturbed by fellow campers wanting to wash up!)

On Monday we had to get back to Picton early to replace the car but as we left the vibrating up front had become a lot worse. We then noticed that we had a flat tyre which needed replacing. Fortunately the car company came to us while Mark changed the tyre. Supposedly the previous hirer had hit a bridge and had damaged just the hub cap - looking at it she'd done a lot more damage! Our new car was bigger and rattle free so we were happy.

For the rest of the morning we hit three vineyards including our favourite one (Isabel) before returning around lunchtime to meet up with the guys from Newcastle to continue our vineyards trip but on bikes. In the afternoon we toured around the region stopping every km or so and tasting some of the wines. We got back to the campsite around 6pm very content with our bellies full of wine and our legs (and heads) a bit sore after covering over 30km! We capped off the afternoon with a couple of pints in the local pub. That evening we took control of the campsite kitchen again and played cards with our Geordie friends, listened to music (big Knopfler fans - Newcastle being his hometown) and drank some of the wine we'd purchased. We went to bed around 1am all a little worse for wear!

Today we drove from Blenheim to Richmond which is near Nelson after one more vineyard stop at Cloudy Bay. Rach was driving so Mark was the designated drinker! The scenery in the South Island so far has been stunning and we're sure there will be plenty more to come. The journey didn't take long so we spent the afternoon exploring Nelson.

Tomorrow we head up to Motueka where we plan to do a Kayak / walking trip around the Abel Tasman National Park. We'll be meeting up with David, David (Frank lookalike) and Andy (The Geordies) to do the trip.

Hope all is good at home.

Lots of love

Mark & Rach. xxx

New Plymouth and Wet Welly

We left Taupo on Thursday and made our way to New Plymouth arriving late afternoon. Nothing new about it really as it was chucking it down (very much like to one back home no doubt). We spent the rest of the day doing chores as we couldn't go walking and there were no waves. We had the campsite kitchen to ourselves that evening and chilled out watching TV and the occasion game of table tennis. - hoping for better weather on Friday.

We woke on Friday to the sound of rain on our tent so we had a very lazy start to the day. After breakfast it was still raining so we ventured into town to finalise our flights to LA and then went to the cinema. That was the second time we'd been in six months - we don't go that often at home!  We watched 'Invictus' which was about the South African Rugby World Cup Finals. Pretty funny really as the All Blacks lost that game!! It was quite a good film and kept us dry! Plus we didn't realise until the start of the film that it was 20 years to the day that Nelson Mandela had been released. That evening we had the kitchen again to ourselves.

Yesterday we left New Plymouth for Wellington (Wet Welly) and the weather looked as if things might improve! Sadly as we arrived in the capital the dark clouds were forming and the wind was intensifying! Putting up the tent took some time as Mark had to replace another pole (one spare left) and the ground was full of tree roots bending the tent pegs - not a relaxing erection! We spent the afternoon playing table tennis (getting pretty good) and then prepared dinner. During the night we woke up on occasions due to the high winds but fortunately the tent stayed intact. 

Today we took a bus into the capital and walked around the city looking at the various sites including 'Te Papa' - the New Zealand Museum. Back at the campsite we got ourselves sorted for our ferry journey tomorrow to the South Island.

The last couple of days in the North Island have been quite disappointing really due to the weather but we have had a fantastic time and are now really looking forward to the South.

Hope all is tops at home.

Love to all.

Mark & Rach.xxx

PS - sorry no photos due to the weather!