See that is where it is funny because we had a great time in Queenstown!!! :) We skied and white water rafted and all that stuff tho... which like you say, if you don't have the cash for, you can't do.

Zorbing is worth the cash in Rotorua if you can... a two person wet one! The north tip is a good day out, we drove there and back from Paihia in a day, if you are around the Bay of Islands. Sounds like you have a packed 18 days ahead.

Vietnam was awesome! Forgot how much fun SE Asia is!!

Hmm, that's weird, I think the hostel managers' enthusiasm rubbed off on us, and to be fair we did have a pretty good time. We thought Queenstown was sh1t, what did you make of it?

We've just finished up with Taupo, heading to Rotorua tomo, then back south to Tongariro National Park Village to use as a base for some snowborading on Ruapehu then on to Waitomo then up through Auckland to Bay of Islands and if we have time, the very north tip! Though we've only got 18 days left so if we can fit it in we will, need some time for snowboarding.

How was Vietnam?

Can't believe you enjoyed Kaikoura so much!! We thought it was sh*t!! :-) We all have different experiences though, I suppose that is what makes it so much fun!

Hope you are enjoying Wellington. What are your plans for the North Island?

Louise - We'd both do it again in an instant if it didn't cost so damn much! It really was great but it was over so quick. If you enjoyed the photos, you'll love the dvds!!

Your all Sooooo brave...those pics of your skydiving are really great!

Maybe you should do that on your arrival home, just parachute into your back garden! That would be some style!

Paul, i've never seen point break so i have no idea what you are on about. though that is one for when i get home if its about skydiving and surfing.

Dad - Milford Sound was good, but it was raining very heavily and the cloud was very low so we couldnt see the peaks, so the photos are not as good as we had hoped. the new camera is grand, i still need to play about with it to see what will come out good and find out how to use loads of the functions.

Sunny is a great wee motor. She has got us through tons of stunning places and its great to have a boot where we currently can cart around a box of beer and all our summer clothing.

Talk to ya soon. xx

Paul you really need to get out more. Patrick & Keanu say so. Mind you so do I!!!

Claire & Chris - photos are fab & scenery looks beaut. Just like home eh? Same reaction from people in my place as well ... "no f***ing way!!"

How was Milford Sound? Photos on its web site look great and Im sure yours will be too. New camera still going ok? Sunny behaving herself?

Take care & speak/Skype soon. xx

PS. Calls are free to Chris & Claire on their Vodafone whilst they are still in NZ so everyone get dialing!!!!

o yea ninja r very knowledgeable!! they kno all!! is that a point break quote?? here r some others u can use!!

You're about to jump out a perfectly good airplane Jonny, how do you feel about that?

Pure adrenalin, right?! The ultimate rush. Other guys snort for it, jab a vein for it -- all you gotta do is jump.

and my fav

Little hand says it's time to rock and roll!!

Haha yep we skydived with ninjas. ninjas that were very informative about local mountain ranges once we were parachuting - i always thought they were the silent killers - who knew...

I just love those photos, and there are tons more we can show you when we get home. im so tempted to do it again, but this time shout 'i was made for this sh*t while jumping...'

New Zealand is such an awesome place. i would recommend it to everyone. we're having so much fun just driving around through jaw droppingly beautiful places and doing silly stuff.

Talk soon. love yas xx

OMG i wana sky dive, after seeing those photos! it looks amazing!

Some rather exciting news, im moving to newcastle, well only till november but im excited. Heading next thursday but when you guys get back ill come back for the weekend. Just moving with the civil service but im so bored something had to change.

Keep up with the great photos, new zealand is never somewhere ive wanted to visit but after looking at the photos it looks completly awesome! And filled with stuff a human geography geek like me finds amazingand then fiji will be completly different again!

Were so lazy with the phoning just never get round to it but with free calls well phone you guys soon this weekend or sumit!

Class photos of your skydive. I was showing them to the girls in work & they couldn't believe you both actually did that, in fact i think their words were no f'ing way LOL.

They asked me to leave you a message to let you know they are enjoying seeing & hearing all about your trip.

not only did u skydive but u skydived with ninjas!! very cool!!