Hello, Well, the helicopter ride and rafting was pretty cool....finally busted out of the routine, got the credit cards out and did some alternative activities. Dressing up in 20mm of rubber worn by many a sweaty tourists was the downside but taking a snowy canyon helicopter ride made the day! Both of us being raft and helicopter virgins made it all the more exiting...actually (me adam) pooped myself a bit when the chopper flew off the mountain side (as some of you know im crap with heights really) and stayed almost vertically parallel down to the canyon bottom......this pilot must have been some ex-vietnam boy or something...he loved the acrobatics! we landed and put on another 20mm of coats,lifejackets and helmets.....then braved the freezing water!....when i say freezing, i mean it froze me maltesers so much, i almost cried! Next we checked out some very old glaciers on the west coast.....weather really sucked.....however we walked to the edge of the glacier to view its journey through the mountains and how it has retracted about 500yards every 5 years or so. What is it with coach loads of Japanese tourists??...im trying to get a good glacier pic and they are everywhere standing in view with their bright red puffa alpine jackets!! After all this cold business we decided to move on through the central snowy mountain ranges to check out some natural hot pools. At this time, the whole of the country was experiencing freak winter weather patterns and hence many roads were rendered unfit for vehicles.......luckily the grit trucks were on the case early doors!! At the thermal pools, we tip toed throught the snow in our trunks and bikinis to then chill in the hot water whilst checking the snow all around us. Time to rinse off in the 'japanese baths'......we gave this a miss as the baths were full of naked east asian chappies and lou refused to sit in them cos they smelled of Pi$$!! Have been spending our last few days back at a lovely little coastal town called Kaikoura (famous for sealife and sea food). This is a great place for free camping and hence we have had some very chilled moments. a couple infact that we will always remember. We woke up one morning checking a nice sunrise and brewing up a cuppa, when we managed to catch some 'dusky' dolphins and seals jumping outa the sea a little way in front of the van....does it get any better? maybe, if your sitting under the stars infront the fire supping wine and eating grilled cheesy nachos!! tata New Zealand......next stop Singapore and Thailand