Well, sorry its been a while everyone but its been a hectic few weeks. Got to take it easy on the cashflow now til i leave fro Fiji and i've got everything i want to do out of the way so i'm looking for some work in Queenstown at the mo. But anyway, i'll update on you on the secon half of the North Island and the South Island so far.

The day after the bungy jump at it was time for the 8 hour trek around Tomngariro National Park, which meant getting up and being ready for 5.40am.....a feat in itself. The trek itself was 18km and Ed and I decided we'd take on Mt Ngaurhoe as well (Mt Doom from 'Lord of The Rings) and that was a hard slog but well worth it when we fianlly got the top. You could see for miles and such diverse landscape, from snow-capped mountains to sandy tracks surrounded by lakes and rivers. Considering it took 1.5 hours to reach the 2287m summit (in good old 2 steps forward 1 step back fashion) it only 15 minutes to slide back down. The rest of the trek was alot easier but still painful after the climb.......found out later we were the only 2 from our group of 45 to take it on, so an added sense of achievement.

The next day (the 15th) we were off to a place know as River Valley and this was a little paradise in the middle of nowhere. Plenty of people went and did the white water rafting but had to start watching the cash so decided to just stay put by the river and climb the cliff top, where i had lunch on my tod and just looked out over the rolling hills surrounding us. The evening was spent rock jumping with everyone else and some great fun had.

The next day and it was onto Wellington, where we had a brillinat night or so im told cos my memory of it......well it's a bit hazy! I do remember dancing and given my phobia of such a past time and being a lanky-white-emglishman, means i was a tad drunk, which was later confirmed the pics everyone had taken of me. The night ended with a marvellous neverending nosebleed!

The next day was spent just strolling around Wellington and it's a pretty cool city. One street in particular called Cuba street really stood, a real alternative hippy area that reminded alot of Haight in San Francisco. It was here that i decided to get my lip pierced......so Dad but another spur of the moment decision. The next day was gain fairly relaxed just looking round the city and ended it with a game of cards with everyone in the evening. After the cards i went ot try and find a bar to watch the Mighties take on Chelsea and to no avail, which is gutting considering the result..........COME ON YOU RED MEN! But the wierdest thing did happen. On the way back some bloke asked me for a lighter, recognised my accent and asked where i was from. Turns out his sister is married to Mr West from QE (for those of you who don't know QE it's my old secondary school and Mr West is a teacher there) small world or what?!

Next it was onto Nelson and on the way we stopped of at a river with some more superb rocks to jump off, seems we've been doing rock jumping at every given opportunity, but its is a laugh. Nelson itself was a pretty cool town and most of the time was spent down at the local beach to chill out, play footbal and just lap up some sun, wihtout any sunburn this time.

After Nelson, it was onto Westport which was a long ol' drive.....painstakingly long and sweaty! On the way we stopped off at the lake, where lUke Ras and I have hopefully got ourselves into the future Kiwi Experience guidebook. Achieved by multiple jumps, from superman esq to front flips......as the pics show. That night was the beach party and bonfire with plenty of marshmallows and booze. The beach football was cracking fun but realsied it was getting a bit dark when my crotch was impaled onto Johns knee.....so just decided to relax for the rest fo the night and watch the comet overhead. Just wish i couldv't got some decent pics of it.

The next led to the best night ive had since being out here, down at the Poo Pub at Lake Mahinapua and meeting the legendary Les, the 83 yr old owner who's such a funny old cynic. The part that night was to the them of the letter 'P' so being matur lads, we decided to go dressed as prostitutes. Nothing but admiration for how girls find comfort thongs!

After a couple of days here it was off to Franz Josef, a small town in The OSuthern Alps surrounded by 2 glaciers the Franz Josef and Fox. The next day Luke and I took on the glacier trek and it was good but to anyone reading this who's considering it......save your money. Considering it takes 7 hours you dont get too far and its constant stop start.

From Franz Josef it was onto Queenstown.....the extreme sports capital of the world! On our way we stopped atv yet another river with deep blue freezing water, so naturally we decided to launch of the cliff face into it froma bout 15m up. Just outside Queenstown we stopped off at a bungy jump and i booked myself in for The Thrillogy, basically all 3 bungy's in Queenstown, the Bridge (43m) The Nevis (145m) and The Ledge (47m). But im running out of time now, so tomorrow i'll come on once ive completed the last of them and tell you how they went.

Take care all.