Kia-Ora,

It's been a while since I've added to this journal so I shall commence waffle-waffle without further ado.

The previous plan of travelling by scenic railway has fallen through, but I've come up with a much better one! I call it "Plan B".

It entails catching a big green bus and being driven around the country stopping off in the main towns and cities that make up this beautiful double-island.

So far, after our pick-ip from Auckland, we've been through Mercury Bay, Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo, River Valley Lodge, Wellington and now I'm resting in Nelson for a second night. Nelson is the first stop in the South Island, with a 3-hour Ferry crossing from Wellington, the Capital of New Zealand and also the last stop in the North Island.
So Mercury Bay was a very chilled out town where everyone on the bus got to get friendly over a few beers.
In Rotorua, I took it upon myself to do a bit of white water rafting, and although I've forgotten the name of the river at the time of writing, I know it has a 7 metre waterfall amongst the many rapids. I know this because the rafting co-ordinators pride themselves on throwing their customers off this 7m waterfall, the highest commercial river-rafting waterfall drop in the world.
Luckily, both rafts that took the plunge, managed to stay afloat with no men overbaord. However, after meeting some others who did the same adventure, it can get quite crazy if you don't line up with the mouth of the fall properly.

So onto Waitomo, home of a pub with the moodiest landlady ever!
The only thing thats more exciting than that; Waitomo as a literal translation means "water hole". Yes, it does rain lots, but it is also home to a very large cave system. So trust me to stay an extra day on my larry and sign up for the 7-Hour Epic cave adventure entitled, "The Ultimate". Totally worth it; 100 metre abseil into a mystic cove, with greenery, mist and eels.
Lunch at the bottom, 5 hour trek through waterfalls, over rocks and through tight gaps with an in-cave planetarium, courtesy of the milions of glow worms, followed up by BBQ'd Steak back at base.
So then it was onto Taupo the next morning, where I was re-united with the dudes & dudettes from my previous Coach. I also felt it was time; time for a BIG Jump. After the cloud cover cleared and the Sun shone through, a group of us hopped into the "Freefall" van and made our way to a warehouse on Lake Taupo's edge.
After donning my Red Suit, I realised it gave me jack-ups and I almost through in the chute...
...but then I swallowed my pride and got dragged to the plane by my jumpmaster.
at 10,000 feet I took on some extra Oxygen, and by 12,000 I was the last one on the plane. 15,000 feet up, one guy in front and one behind I made my way to the "quick" Exit. 2 seconds later, I was "Niall the Eagle".

To get in touch with nature we get to stay at River Valley. Cabin accomodation and exquisite food made this a unique experience. I just wish I hadn't had a crappy cold during my visit.

Wellington provided the opportunity for a night out, and seeing as I'd been held up in bed for the past 4 days looking like a dying man, I thought it was about time I gave my body some of it's own medicine!
All I can say, or rather mathematically calculate for you is that; A Bad Cold + Muchos-Drinkos + 2-Hours-Kip = The worst feeling when your alarm goes off at 6am knowing your next rest will be on sea-ferry.

Hope all is Gravy Baby...'s
Until next time, over and out,
Niall
xxxx