August 2008 Archives

Hello Everyone!

Here is a brief rundowns of my last few days in New Zealand....

Abel Tasman hiking adventure!  Although magnificent I was horribly unprepared for just how deserted this beautiful part of New Zealand is.  Wearing a long sleeved shirt, jeans and a scarf...doh... it's winter! I headed off on my hiking adventure, only to find it was bloody freezing by the time I disembarked from the water taxi on a lonely desserted beach at Onetahuti (me, myself and I). 

No going back as I waved goodbye to the water taxi and headed up the clifftop path.  By the second mountain (probably a hill to more experienced hikers) I felt like I was dying.  I was the ONLY one on the walk.  I kept thinking what if I fall, there's no mobile reception!  No one will know I'm here.  Eventually there was a sign saying turn right for high tide walk, straight for low tide walk.  It looked like low tide so I headed down only to find bugger, shit, arse, head in hole it was not.  On the up side the water looked fairly shallow (knee height) so not to be daunted I rolled up my jeans, took off my boots and began wading across - by the time I was mid-way across and jeans soaked to my bum the heavens opened and proceeded to soak the top half of me as well.

2 hours later I was sitting on the bus heading back to Nelson soaked from top to toe swearing NEVER to go hiking again!  A hot shower and a cup of soup however had me feeling mildly normal by the time I went to bed that evening.

Greymouth Brewery!  I did the brewery tour with a bunch of girls and guys from my bus.  It was great fun although by the time we had finished eating and drinking more I made the wise choice of heading home and felt that I should save myself for Queenstown!

Franz Josef!  Glacier hike... after Abel Tasman!  NO BLOODY WAY!  Instead.... Bianca and I took the Scenic Heli Flight over the glacier which was absolutely stunning! It landed on top of Fox Glacier and we got to play in the ice/snow where I rather uncermoniously landed on my arse!

I have binned a second day in Franz Josef and am instead heading down to Queenstown a day earlier than anticipated but as there is LOTS more to do down there it seems like a wise choice!  I have even decided to try my hand at skiing... watch this space!

Bye for now, Dxxx

Firstly.... get your minds out of the gutter!!!!  I am talking about Quad Biking!!!!

I have just come back from the most exhilirating, amazing day!  I spent it Quad Biking in the mountains of Nelson!  The scenery was stunning!  We took the quad bikes up to the top of the mountain and then hopped on the skywire which runs you across the treetops and then back again! 

After that we went to a lookout point and took photo's of the views, then down to the valley again where we got to race around the track and go through rivers - BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT DAY.

I also met 4 great Irish girls who I am hoping to meet up with again in Franz Josef!

Bye for now!  xxx

So!  My first day on the Magic Bus and magic it was indeed!  I was supposed to be in Kaikoura tonight and Picton tomorrow night but instead I am in Nelson! 

What happened.... Flooding, landslides, torrential rain etc.  All roads to Kaikoura.. CLOSED!  So our bus driver decided to go inland via Hamner Springs... Landslides!  CLOSED!   So back we went the whole bus praying that the only other alternative... Lewis Pass would be open... YES!  But with landslide warnings! 

It was a spectacularly long day!  Leaving Christchurch at 07.45am and arriving in Nelson at 6.45pm BUT I have to admit that the scenery was absolutely SPECTACULAR and the sunset coming into Nelson was breathtaking!

Watch this space to see what the rest of the journey holds!

Bye for now! xxx