Skydive Day!! Was the first on the bus this morning (not because I was early, just because I was the only one being picked up from my hostel - don't worry, I haven't suddenly become at one with time keeping). First thing the driver says - 'perfect skydiving weather today'.

What. Today?? In 3 hours time? Erm... ok.

Bit of sightseeing to get out of the way first though, bubbling mud, geyser, Huka (water) Falls, bungy jump site to watch Charlie do his jump, then, eventually we get picked up to drive to the airport. Was surprisingly calm - until Phil, a geordie introduced himself as my tandem jump guy (kidding mum!). He was lovely really. Given about 2 minutes to get into our very attractive red jump suits and wander out to the plane. Couldn't help but think that some sort of safety briefing wouldn't have gone amiss - but consolled myself with the thought that by the time I'd worked out something was wrong, it would be too late...

The jump was amazing - I did it from 15,000 ft, but we had 2 to 'drop off' at 12,000 ft on the way up, surprisingly unceremonious - they just suddenly weren't sitting in front of me. (Meant I actually had some leg room tho, which was pleasant!) There wasn't a cloud in the sky and you could see both the eastern and western points of the north island at the same time. I jumped first, there were a couple more from my bus sitting behind me, who I saw as they nearly landed on my head in the 'gravel pit' - Phil assured me that as there was 3 feet of gravel, we could hit the ground pretty hard and still survive. I told him if the land didn't kill him, I would.

Anyway, retired to the hostel before heading out for a couple of drinks and a pub quiz (came third). Early night as we were tackling the Tongeriro (sp) Alpine Crossing in the morning and the bus was picking us up at 6am...

Hopefully there should be some pictures now uploaded of the mountain crossing we did. Supposedly some of the best views of New Zealand on this walk, bloody should be as it nearly killed me.

Let me explain. The walk is 19.4k. Partly uphill. And I'm absurdly unfit. Anyway, not much to tell you about really, I'll leave it to the pictures to explain. But should Rowan, Charlie or Sarah ever read this - thank you for not leaving me for dead...