Hello all!!

Currently in Queenstown having had an action packed week.

As I said before we went White Water rafting in Rotorua down grade 5 river which was a tad scary. We also visited the Wai O Tapu thermal wonderland area which is incredible. Lots of sulphur caves and collapsed craters as well as bubbling mud pools - really cool to see.

After that we headed to Lake Taupo where we went SKY DIVING!!!! It was soooo amazing ( I have even uploaded photos to facebook - pause for impressed expressions!). I was really nervous on the way to Taupo and even more nervous when we were in teh plane climbing to 15,000 feet. At one point I commented that we were really high and my instructor laughed and showed me his altitude watch - 5,000 feet. whoops! Anyway, the experience is a weird one as everyone (bar you) is really calm and just chatting normally. Had decided to get the video etc so camcorders are being passed back and forth. You are packed into this teeny plane benches and the door is a mini accordian slidy thing! AHHH!

Anyway, when it comes time to jump, they simply flip open the door and inch to the edge. As you are strapped to the front you are actually being dangled over the side of the plane which is a slightly frightening experience!!! Especially when you are being briefed and are told to just sit over the edge like its an everyday thing to do. Then they yell smile and take a photo ( everyone else at this point smiled - my face welll...look at the photo!) and launch you out of the plane. Its sooo disorientating at first as you are flipping all over the place but the feeling is absolutely amazing! SOOOOO GOOD!

The freefall lasted just over a minute and then the chute gets pulled and you just feel like you are sitting in midair for a while. The scenery was breathtaking - so gorgeous and my instructor kept spinning us all over the place which was pretty cool. You all have to go sky diving - its amazing!!!!!

After leavign Taupo, we headed to Tongoriro National Park to do the Tongoriro crossing which is v.v.v.tiring! Just short of a 20km walk with the added excitement that it is across an active volcano - pretty cool. The climb which is about an hour in is really steep and the weather did not help as it was freezing!!! At one point we thought it had strated raining only to realise we were in a cloud! At the top the winds were pretty strong so we were all crawling along thim rim and sliding down on out backsides to avoid ending up inthe crater itself. The crossing takes you next to Mount Doom which was pretty cool - awesome photos! On the way down you pass the emerald lakes which was beautiful - blues and greens and amazingly clear. GORGEOUS!

Sadly Ali and I took far too many photos with the result the both cameras were worse for wear by the end and we were the last back -which we only realised when a guy on our bus came running up as he had been sent to look for us!

After Tongoriro we went over to Abel Tasman and went on a boat and walking tour of golden bay. We both got to drive the boat which was cool although the tracking system was slightly confused by the end of it!

We have also visited to Franz Josef glacier and gome walking and climbing on it (Hubby - he he he). So much fun! We had crampons and everything. The hike goes through caves and tiny tunnels where we were pretty sure someone would get stuck! I have an awesome photo of me dancing on the glacier too! SOOO COOL!

My birthday was spent heading to Makarora where we went jet boating! It was really fun! The boat can go in a tiny amount of water so we were spinning all over the place. Then we went swimming in the river - flipping freezing - i think it is supposed to be about 6degrees? So again a funny video of us both screaming!!!!! The feeling when you get out is great though!

Now in Queenstown having a bit of a break. Though St Paddys day yesterday kind of prevented that a bit! Great place as the town was buzzing last night.

Next stop is Christchurch and then we head back to Queenstown so I will keep you updated as we carry on.

Miss you all loads - thanks so much for the birthday messages and thanks for ther emails!
Loads of Love
Bron and Ali
xxx