Top of the day to you!!!!

Hope you are all well. I'm still having a fantasic time and loving every single moment. The sun is out and soon I will be heading over to Queenstown, home of the bungy jumping. Not too sure what I will get up there but I don't think I'm brave enough for a bungy jump.

Here's an up-date.

FRANZ JOSEF

Franz Josef and Fox are the two most famous glaciers in the New Zealand. The amazing thing about these glaciers, is that they are advancing. At times Franz Josef can move up to 5 metres a day, but it usually advances 1 metre a day. I was impressed by that. There are many activites to do. Heli-hiking, Heli-Touring, ice climibng, ice hiking, walking, kayaking etc. I chose to go on a full days hiking on the glacier, totalling 6 hours on the ice. All the clothing was provided, boots, clamp-ons, gloves, hats and if you wanted an axe! The axes don't really serve a purpose for us tourists, but they are great for tacky photos. I had an axe nevertheless. I was the only one that found the axe to be helpful, most people found them a hinderence and an extra weight to carry. My axe helped me on the long steep ice steps that my little trotters struggled to reach. Long legs are a blesing. Still I had the last laugh on the way back down, because my leg legged friends were like bambi. The icefield was spectactular with its blue ice, worm holes and carvasses. I would like to do a helihike next-time because at times there was alot of standing around whilst the guides cut out new steps on virgin tracks. But it was exciting to walk along the ice in new territories.

My hostel was good, although it had an atmosphere of a halls of residence in college. I had a room of four beds to myself for a few days, so I'm not complaining. The best thing about the place was the 16 seator outdoor spa and bar.....

MAKARORA

I only stopped here for one night. The place is that small, it's not even mentioned in the lonely planet book. The local school only has 7 children and each of them have their own computer! This little place reminded of home with its lakes and jagged mountains. I went on a short hike (1hr) because I had been couped up on a bus most of the day.

WANAKA

What is beautiful place... Breathtaking landscape, rolling hills, lakes, mountains glaciers, it has it all. It's a mecca for skiers and boarders during the winter, heli-skiing and boarding are popular actvities. During the summer, hikers, climbers, bikers, walkers and campers come here and the surrounding areas. The town is only 80km away from Queenstown and its the gateway to the Mt Aspring National Park. I went on a short hike around Mt Iron which gives you panaromic views of the surrounding valleys. I had organised another hike to the Rob Roy glacier, however, we had to turn back because the rivers we had to drive through were too high. They were incredible, an amazing sight, torrents of water spilling and swelling across the roads. We returned back into town and I used my time to catch up with my journal, do my washing and make some more broth. There's never a day wasted.

Well, next time you hear from me, I will have done some wired and wonderful activity in the world adventure capital of Queenstown. There are few people trying to convince me that it should be bungy jump. Hmmm. Not too sure on that one. Watch this space.....

Take care as always.

Lots of love Annie