...Continued

Taupo - What an amazing amazing place. Taupo is famous for it's HUGE lake. It is so big that it looks like the sea. I read somewhere that it's larger than Singapore. Not sure where that comparison came from but guess it highlights the sheer size! On the journey we were asked if we wanted to sky dive the same afternoon. It was something i always expected myself to do when visiting NZ and Taupo is renound for being not only the cheapest, but one of the best locations to throw yourself out of a plane at 15000 ft in the world. Conditions the day we were arriving were just perfect in everyway - crystal blue skies, warm temperatures and quiet breezes. It was good that we didn't have long to think about it, only a few hours to get very very excited! We got to the airport and had to wait a while. We all opted for 15000ft as opposed to 12000 and to have our freefall filmed and a DVD made. Bonus was we also could choose a t-shirt! Our time finally came to get kitted up and meet our tandem person. My blokey was as little as me. Then we met our photographers and headed for the plane. As we climbed feet into the air, it suddenly dawned on me that because i was last on the plane and sat nearest the door, i would be first out aaaah! However, i then thought that it was probably best not to watch the others fall! At 10000 feet we started getting ready - i was well and truly attached to adam and had to sit on his knee whilst he fastened everything up - as you can imagine, this was a giggly experience! Then even funnier was at 1000 ft - the hat went on and finally at 14000ft those beautiful goggles got tightened onto my face. The door opened and we shimmied to the doorway. The camera man left first and held the plane whilst i turned for my exit photo (it's a classic) then after 3 that was it - little miss composed jumped out of an aeroplane and didn't even scream. Freefall was just weird - after doing a spin i finally came back to reality and absolutely loved it. The camera man was very good and joined onto us by holding my hand then suddenly the parachute opened and all was quiet giving me the chance to laugh my head off for a fair old while! ...and take in the breathtaking scenery of course. Despite being first out the plane i landed third anf we flew in on our bottoms into a gravel pit. I was so exhillarated that i couldnt stand up!! Can't wait to re-view the DVD! Our hostel in Taupo was very nice - us girlies somehow were given a private room for three which was off a larger dorm room. The hostel had a hot tub which we spend one late afternoon lolling in and the kitchen was very well equipped. I got hooked on jacket spuds with ham, beans and cheese so had that practically every night!

I felt very tired on day 2 so didn't really achieve alot and on the last day, once we were finally all ready, we went down to the lake and lay in warm sun for a couple of hours.

Wellington - only arrived this afternoon but already thinking about all the things there are to do here - there's the Te Papa museum which im going to visit, a mountain to climb but probably won't have the energy, a harbour to strole to um shopping (of course) although i can only really window shop as the funds aren't as healthy as they once were! So yep - lots to see here before we cross to South Island.

Will keep you updated, x