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Kia ora!!!! Hey everyone......have had the most amazingly busy week and this is the first chance I have had to update you on my adventures!!!!
So we left Brisbane last Tuesday and flew to Christchurch which is on the east coast of New Zealands South Island......we were dropped off in the centre and it can only be described as a mini England....there was even that chill we get in early autumn, you know that one we get when we know summer is over!!! It is beautiful here, very picturesque....BUT it was Paddys Day!!! So we promptly got ready and got involved in the celebrations at the backpackers!!! It was here that I experienced my first ever lesson in being a door lady!!! Got to ask everyone for ID....totally hilarious, if anyone challenged me...I told them "I am working for him"......pointed at Gerrard, a 6 foot, rather large bouncer...."he said he wants to see it!!!"......maybe not my next career move but very funny none the less!!!!! AS was decorating people with my green St Paddys Day pen!!!
Up early the next day.....have to say have felt better....bed at 3, up at 6.30 to spend our first day on the tranzalpine train to Greymouth!!! Well I soon recovered.......words will not even begin to explain the views from this awesome train......it is built especially for the crossing from Christchurch to Greymouth through the Southern Alps - it had special big viewing windows and a viewing carriage where you were outside taking in the scenery....wow, wow, wow!!!! Some of the most breathtaking scenery I have ever seen.....and I know I feel like I say this at every stage of this journey but I honestly can't believe some of the things I am seeing.....we met some brilliant people on the journey too.....so interesting talking to people from all different walks....
We arrived in Greymouth....and......it was GREY!!!! Raining and freezing!!! I know serves me right for all the showing off about the sunshine!!! lol!!!! Literally chilled here, had a few beers in the bar with some more cool people and got some zzzz's..... little did I know what the next day had in store!!!
We finally get to go on the infamous Magic Bus.....and Magical it is!!! haha!!! I can only describe this as being on a school trip....WICKED!!! Back seat and everything!!!!
So off we go to Franz-Josef......we arrive at lunchtime, again after driving through some amazing landscapes.....Franz-Josef is famous for it's glacier....so we are asked if we want to hike up it for half a day.....so I did......AND OH MY GOD!!!! As usual the pics won't do this justice but I will try and explain......we got kitted out in hiking boots, coats, socks and a pair of clampons (makes me giggle!!)......we then took a short bus journey to the valley....we then take a hike through a small forest to an opening where between the mountains there is a huge glacier....without doubt THE most amazing thing I have ever seen.....I still can't quite get it that it was not freezing cold on it....apparently it's a warm glacier eh???!!! Anyway, we took the most amazing walk up it.....it really is ice!!! The guides had cut steps for us and the clampons on our shoes kept us attached to the ice.....simply breathtaking......going up was easy.....coming down not so much!!! The guide told me to think "it's like going down your stairs at home!!!!" Yeah right!!!! lol!!! I am making that sound worse than it was....it truly was the most amazing thing I have ever done......
So after that experience.....we head for Queenstown.....the party/adventure capital of NZ....and it didn't disappoint!!! We saw people doing all kinds of crazy stuff!!! The Bungy was awesome to watch, just still not brave enough!!! So we partied instead!!! Had a ball.....and needed a rest when we left!!!!
So back on the Magic Bus.....and off to Dunedin......a very Scottish town, we arrived mid afternoon but managed to fit in visiting the Speights Brewery and...........Cadbury World!!! YUMMY!!!! It was only 6 pound which was my justification for doing it in NZ and not in Brum!!!! Got loads of free chocolate and learnt lots about my favourite food!!!!
Then....guess what??? Back on the bus!!!! (So funny, we have to be on the bus about 7.45 in the morning....it's very quiet to start with.......!!!)......
Off to Lake Tekapo today.....a long journey but we have managed to keep ourselves amused with some banter!!!! When we got there.....it was worth the drive.....we stayed in a lakeside lodge on Lake Tekapo....and WOW!!! Simply stunning......so Dina and I hired 2 Kayaks and I had my first experience of Kayaking!!! It was hilarious!!!! Had a great time....once I knew how to steer it!!! haha!!! Came back and went out for a meal with about 20 of us from the bus......then at 10pm, a few of us got picked up to go star gazing at the observatory on Mount John......WOW (for a change!!!)......we got to see Saturn in it's fullest glory....rings and everything.......totally amazing.....through a real telescope and in a real observatory and everything!!!!! AWESOME!!! After the yummiest hot chocolate in the world we went back about 12.30 for some sleep.......
And that brings me to today....we are back in Christchurch....ready for a flight to Wellington on the North Island to continue with the journey........I haveonly touched on the things we have seen......Lake Matheson, Mount Cook.....the list is endless......NZ is truly beautiful....and not as full of sheep as you imagine!!!!
Just a quick note to Uncle Nick - the torch - LEGENDARY!!!! Don't know how I lived without it!!!! THANKS xxxx Oh and everyone is sooooo jealous !!! lol!!!!
So - as most of you know, no phone here, so just emails to stay in touch......
Will talk soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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