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!

Lake Taupo

After one of our shortest drives we arrived at Lake Taupo at around lunchtime.  The sun was out so we decided to go for a stroll along the river near our campsite to see the Huka waterfalls.  We spent about an hour walking along the river and resisted diving in until we had completed the walk. The water was crystal clear and very inviting. The waterfalls were impressive and unlike our waterfall experiences in the past - Rach was fine and there were no dramas! On the way back we dived in and swam against the current for about an hour. We then walked a bit further and found a smaller hot river & spring flowing into the main one - it was like a bath!  We spent ages there just chilling in the warm water.  

On Monday we had a lazy morning and went shopping in Taupo - Rach needed a new bikini as she has had a few exposure moments while we've been boarding. After lunch we headed to Turangi, famous for it's trout fishing. We had a packed lunch with us and did a river walk which wasn't that spectacular but still quite nice. Back in Taupo we went back down to the hot river springs to chill out again. It wasn't as hot as the first day but still very relaxing. 

Yesterday we went to the Honey Hive, a place where you can learn about bees and try honey products. We tried various spirits fused with honey which were OK and Mark purchased a bottle of honey beer for later. We were going to do another walk but the weather didn't look to good so we continued our journey in the car and visited a hydro dam and rapids which were pretty impressive. Returning to the town we stopped off at a glass blowing factory where we learnt about glass blowing (the blower was from Sussex). Really interesting and Mark would like to learn!! That afternoon we spent by the pool reading our books and newspaper. We had a early dinner and spent the rest of the night with somelads from Newcastle (we've bumped into them at most of our campsites) watching sport on the TV while drinking a few beers. 

Tomorrow we head for New Plymouth on the West coast where we hope to go walking up Mt Egmont and do some more boarding.

Love to all at home.

Mark & Rach. xxx

Napier Region

On Friday we left Ohope Beach heading for Napier. We decided to take the shorter inland road rather than the coastal drive which would have taken us over 8 hours and we fancied a change. The journey took us through fantastic mountainous and green scenery that reminded us of Scotland and Wales - but bigger!

We past Gisbourne and returned to the coastal drive down to Napier. We stopped for lunch at a place called Waipatiki Scenic Reserve, a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains - what more could you ask for. Once we arrived in Napier we did the usual (pitch, shop and laundry) before exploring the town. Napier is famous for it's Art Deco buildings due to most of the city being destroyed in an earthquake in 1931. We ventured up to Bluff Hill Lookout to view the coast and then wandered through the Botanical Gardens. Back at the campsite Mark went for a swim while Rach read her book. That evening we cooked at the camp kitchen, however, Mark's budget sausages weren't good so not a happy camper!

Day two (Saturday) in Napier was an action packed one! After a leisurely breakfast we headed south to go walking. On route we went through a small village where there was a lrage gathering of people - some in fancy dress. The village was celebrating Waitangi Day which took place on 6th Feb, 1840. It was when the British and the Maoris signed the Treaty of Waitangi to make NZ become a nominal Bristish Colony. They even performed the 'Haka' in good voice! We then continued our journey to a place called Te Mata Peak (400m) and walked across the small range to the summit and back around. The walk took about 2 hours and you could see for miles.

In the afternoon we headed to the coast where we spent the rest of the afternoon boarding (Rach had a little snooze on the beach first). We had some of our best waves so far and it was great fun! Driving back to the campsite we picked up some 'Award Winning' Pies from a little bakery in Havelock North. We spent our last evening in the campsite kitchen planning our next couple of days which will be in Taupo.

Sadly last night we didn't get much sleep due to noisy Kiwi Rowan Keating fans coming back late and drunk from his concert in Napier! We hated his music and now we hate his fans!

Love to all at home.

Mark & Rach. xxx

White Island

It was an early start this morning to get a boat from Whakatane to the White Island (Whakaari). At 9.15 we left the harbour and once out the sea became rather choppy. It was a two hour trip on the boat to get to the White Island and an intersting one! About half the passengers were soon finding the sea swell more than their stomachs could take. The crew were very good at handing out sick bags but they were certainly kept busy. When we arrived at the island we were both just relieved and proud of ourselves (especially Rach) for keeping hold of our breakfast, however we weren't looking forward to the journey back!
We got a small speed boat onto the very impressive volcanic island and climbed ashore. We had to wear hard hats and were also given gas masks for the sulphur fumes. We had about an hour on the island in total and were guided round learning about the volcanic activity. The volcano did actually erupt in 2000 and evidence of the eruption was clear all around. There was also a sulphur flumes and a toxic lake that was illuminous green in colour. The atmosphere and the rock formations made it feel like we were another planet! It was a truly fascinating thing to see and in the future people may not be able to visit the island.
Back on the boat we had some lunch before setting off back to the mainland. Fortunately the journey this time wasn't quite so choppy and only a few people required the sick bags.
On the way back we saw a number of dolphin pods who found our boat very curious. It was fantastic as the dolphins swam past and leaped around in the water right next to the boat.
We got back on dry land about 3.30 and plan this afternoon to go bodyboarding and hopefully catch some good waves!
Tomorrow we head for Napier and have a long drive ahead of us. I'm sure we'll have some more spectacular views along the way as New Zealand is full of them.
Love to all
Rach & Mark. xxx

Corromandel ( the East side) and Rotorua!

Waking up to another overcast day didn't stop us from driving across the peninsula to visit Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach hoping that the weather might be better on the other side. Sadly that was not the case and it remained dull and rainy for most of the day. We did however trek down to see Cathedral Cove - it only took us 20 minutes even though the signs said 40mins! On arrival we saw the impressive limestone formations slowly being eroded by the sea. We sat there, ate lunch, people watched and kept an eye on the rain clouds in the distance. As soon as we felt the first drop we packed up and left. Overall an impressive place but the weather and sheer number of people there took away some of the magic. We then headed further down the coast to Hot Water Beach. With the weather still overcast we walked along the beach to an outcrop and where loads of people were gathered. There were probably 100 people, some digging, some lounging in the hot water and some like us - just watching in amusement and dipping our toes in. We decided to head back to the campsite and pop back on our way through the following day if the weather improved. That evening we sat in the TV/kitchen area chatting to a lovely Kiwi couple about British/NZ banter.

Neither of us slept well that evening due to the high winds and rain pounding the tent. At one point during the night Mark had to get up and peg the tent down again as the wind had pulled a peg out! We wanted to leave early and head down to Waihi Beach and pop in to Hot Water Beach again but with the weather the way it was we took our time, trying to keep the tent dry when taking it down. We arrived in Waihi Beach around 2pm and pitched the tent and ate lunch. The campsite was fantastic with great facilities and we were looking forward to dinner and beer later on. Before that though we headed back inland to walk around the Karanghake Gorge. The weather fortunately had improved as we walked along the old railway tracks used for the gold mining back in the 1890s. The walk took us along the river and then into various tunnels, one 1km long. We took our head torches only to realise they were pretty weak so walked in the dark instead. In the evening we chilled by the kitchen are and played cards after dinner.

Yesterday we left Waihi Beach for Rotorua. On the way we visited Tauranga and Mt Maunganui Beach. As we neared Rotorua the sun came out and we started to smell the distinct smell of sulphur. Pitching our tent at Holden Bay campsite which was on the outskirts of the town we ventured into the centre to walk around the thermal pools in Kuirau Park. We then drove South and visited the Blue and Green Lakes which are surounded by the Whakarewarewa Forest. We walked around the lakes stopping at various places to admire the views, again stunning and very peaceful. Hot from all the walking we changed into our swimming gear and plunged into the lake - it was very refreshing and fantastic to be able to swim in such a place. That evening we sat in the camp kitchen talking to some lads from Newcastle.

Today we packed up the tent and made our way towards Ohope Beach on the coast. We have decided we love the coast more than inland now and couldn't wait to return. On the way we stopped at one of the geothermal areas on the outskirts of Rotorua (Tikitere - Hell's Gate) and we walked around various smouldering pools of mud. A great place to visit and you could really feel the heat - one pool had mud bubbling away at 145 degree C! We spent about an hour there and after walking bathed our feet in one of the hot mud pools - very relaxing despite the sulphur smell.

Arriving at Ohope Beach we had lunch and then headed into Whatatane to stock up on supplies. Tomorrow we go to the White Island (Whakaari), an island off the coast where we'll be doing a two hour ecotrek around a still active volcano!

Hope all is good at home and its warming up!

Love to all.

Mark & Rach

PS - 5 weeks and then home!