skydiving over fox glacier

well this has to have been the best day I had in New Zealand. It was awesome! On our very last morning in Franz Josef, 18th September, I got to go skydiving. I had deliberately not been out drinking the night before despite the weather being bad - there was no way I wanted to be hungover incase I had to jump out of a plane at 12,000 feet. The plane I went in was tiny! I expected to be standing up when throwing myself out of the plane but no...had to sit down and hang out! The annoying thing about the whole experience was my camera had got soaked the day before when i went glacier hiking and so I had taken the whole thing apart, taken out the memory card. It was at 7000 feet on the way up I realised my camera had no card! I was gutted because this is one of the only jumps where you can take your own camera. I would recommend a sky dive to anyone especially a tandem - you have to go, they won't let you hesitate for a second!

Here's the plane...

This is me hanging out of it at 12,000 feet! The noise when they opened that door was unbelievable!

And I'm gone...

here are some of the things I should have noticed on the way down...I obviously had other things on my mind! Good thing they take photos for you!

Lake Mathieson

Fox Glacier

The sea


Mum, am sending the dvd home of the morning so you can have a look.

Kiwi Experience

Well after spending a fabulous week with Jenna in Gisborne I headed down to Christchurch where I was picked up by the kiwi bus (aka the big green f*** bus) on the 11th. First day was spent at Kaikoura where I booked myself on a whale watching trip. Unfortunately at this time of year the only whales to watch are sperm whales but that didnt matter at all. It was incredible to see these whales. However, at the end of the trip they showed us some video footage of when the whale watching company was first set up. Originally they had a rubber dinghy that fitted only eight people and they got really close to the whales. I was v disappointed because I was in a huge boat that seemed to be overflowing with people, and a lot of my pics had someone's elbow in them and nor did we get close enough to the whales for my liking! anyway, stayed in an awesome hostel that night 'the lazy shag', it was awesome. We went down the pub, the Whaler, and it just happened to be quiz night in which we tied for first place! it came down to a paper, rock, scissors contest and we lost! but we got a 28 bucks bar tab so it was still really good!

Gisborne

Jenna and Kerby

Well Jenna did warn me that it was a long way! Despite having been given the departure and arrival times of the bus to Gisborne I was still blissfully unaware of how long nine hours on a bus is! For most of the time on the bus, some nasty kid behind me was kicking my seat. Several times I turned round and glared at the mother...but obviously the kid kicking my seat was better than the kid pissing her off so it continued. I arrived in Gisborne at about half past six on Wednesday 3rd September. Jenna picked me up from the bus stop and we went and had supper with her nan and Frank. Whilst I was with Jenna I saw just how much time she devotes to her horse, Kerby! I met Jenna's friend, Katy, who is also crazy about horses. Both tried to explain dressage to me over the few days that I was there! I was introduced to Barney, a horse that Jenna was regretting she had sold and was missing him lots. A great end to the story is that she now has Barney back.

I really liked Gisborne and it was great to meet up again with Jen.

Day 2 - Auckland

Well again I was up bright and early, I think out of Debs's flat by half past eight. I headed straight down to the Ferry building where I booked myself on a harbour cruise which lasted nearly two hours, this then entitled me to a return trip to Devonport all for 30 bucks! Both trips meant I got some awesome pics of Auckland and the bridge.

Day 1 - Auckland

Well I arrived in Auckland on Monday 1st September at 4.15am. I must have phoned Debs at about 5.30am...unlucky! I slept the entire flight pretty much from Santiago right through to Auckland so I was ready to head straight out that morning. I jumped on the Explorer bus, 30 bucks and it took me around nine various sights. I started off at kelly tarltons underwater aquarium. Its amazing isn't it that I come from the Falklands yet I still pay good money to see penguins on fake snow. I moved onto the Auckland Museum (see pic) which was awesome - it kept me entertained for the rest of the day. I originally thought i would only need one day in Auckland - what was i thinking?!