Hello!! We arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday 4th Sept into rainy Auckland. Having had an amazing time in Oz we were uber excited about our 15 day tour of New Zealand. A further excitement was the fact that Katie (our devoted school chum) was coming out to meet us. This therefore meant some serious preparation for me and Mand... one single bed sheet, 3 pots of poster paint and a dormitory floor. After 5 hours of serious craftsmandship we had in front of us one of the worlds best handmade welcome posters!! The following day we met Katie at the airport with it and as u can imagine there was an awful lot of girlie screaming!!

The follwing day we set off on our 15 day tour. We headed north from Auckland to the Bay of Islands where we got to know our fellow travellers. The first day we went Kayaking along the Hururi waterfall river, was such fun. Manda and Charlie went in a tandem together with Katie in another tandem with a 6ft 6inch dutch man!!

That afternoon we explored the area and in true crazy english girl style we jumped in the motel's freezing cold outdoor swimming pool! it was freezing!

The following day, the three of us were off Kayaking, we sped across the lake (well Katie did, we weren't quite so quick) to a breathtaking waterfall. The old bingo wings just weren't as efficient as they used to be, but all great fun. In the afternoon Katie and Charlie were off Sprint Car racing to test the F1 credentials, Charlie taking fastest time- Hamilton in her yet! The evening was spent in front of the box watching the Rugby which the Kiwi's are absolutely mad about.

Sunday was spent on the bus travelling to Rotorua. The motel had a private hot tub which we took full advantage of- managing to squeezing 8 of us in a rather small hottub- glass of wine in hand of course. After that in was off for a night on the town, with all our new travelling chums.

Rotorua is full of hot springs which literally spring up from the ground, and the whole town has a smell of eggs- tis very bizarre.

Monday was spent White Water Rafting, was an action packed couple of hours going over waterfalls the biggest at 7 meters and getting really wet but still great. Manda even taking to the front seat- which meant getting truely soaked.

Tuesday, we went to a Mauri village, indulging in an undround cooked lunch and watching a Mauri concert including the Haka!!!!!

Then the afternoon it was Sky dive time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The three of us were slightly petrified which we all concealed well. It is impossible to descibe but the most exhilarating feelinhg...... which unfortunately i will have to write about later out of time.... sorry xxxxxx

Sorry back to the Skydive, Manda jumped first, which is a strange feeling to watch your friend fall out of the sky, then Katie and finally Charlie. You only get the free falling feeling for a couple of seconds and then the air pressure feels like it is holding you up. When we were all on the ground there was an emotional hug and just pleased to be alive.!