On hitting the South Island, we came across a new world of sun and better sights, from the ferry trip at the start as it took us through the Malborough Sounds. From there, we did numerous walks, ate food on a boat cafe thing, and visited a winery, as well as various other poignent activities. Then we headed East, up towards the famous Abel Tasman Park, which had another hairy road to get up there (I had to drive through clouds). Before we got there, the old van finally gave up on us and we had to get it replaced. We now have a Mercedes, which has less beds, but fortunately a working engine. And a water pump.

At Abel Tasman we did a walk for a day, one which turned out to be far longer than we ever intended, as we just kept going around some ludicrous 20km loop. It would've been alright, but we neglected to bring any food. Still, the track was pleasant, through all sorts of forest type places and all that usual ideallic lark. Golden sand beaches, intriguing rock formations, the usual. As we finished the trail, it started to rain, and then it kept raining for about 3 days. We made a horrific effort to get down to the Glaciers, stopping at such sites as the Cape of Foul Wind (that was pointless), and Pancake Rocks, all in torrential rain. When we got to the Glaciers, Ben and I got talking to some Americans as we sat sheltered from the rain in a visitor's centre, watching videos about parrots, and one of them eventually decided he was going to climb a glacier in the rain. Damned if we would let americans outdo us, we went to do the same. Fortunately, the rain cleared up whilst we were walking, and it's stayed clear ever since. HUzzah@!

We're now in Queenstown, having come here via Wanaka, where we did an incredible walk up to the Rob Roy Glacier. That finished with one of the best sights we've ever seen, no doubt (as well as an attack from a Kea parrot. good thing those videos had prepared us for that); which was nice because we walked an extra 8km to get there, on account of signs telling us our van couldn't pass the fords. It could have though. Lying swine. Queenstown is a grand place, though. For one, I've managed to get a new bag to replace the stolen one, for a poultry $6. That's about 2 pounds. And then, Ben and I this morning endeavoured to jump the Nevis bungy.

The Nevis is the highest bungy in this country, suspended from a cable car in the middle of a valley. It's a 134 metre drop. That's some 400 ft. Put into perspective, that's about two golden gate bridges high. And it was windy. They made us shuffle onto the ledge, then leap off screaming for our lives. It was like 'this is really dangerous' then 'oh my god why am i suddenly falling hundreds of feet towards cliffs and water how has this happened' then it was suddenly over. Or it should've been. Because of the winds they spent ages towing me back up, to be careful. I was blown away from the cable car, and feared for my life. Then the people in the office mocked the photos of my preacher pose i jumped with, as opposed to the usual swan dive. Damn their eyes. Still, at least I didn't hang from one leg as Ben did, when his attempts to put himself upright for the rise failed quite miserably. Tis sad that Chraa and Lowe did not do the jump, but what can you do. Who knows where they are now, presumably fannying about in town. Either way, we can't get back into the van at the moment, and hence this has occurred.