After leaving Wellington I got the ferry across the Cook Straight waters which separate the two islands to the South Island. My first stop here was in Nelson where I met my friend Lauren to travel with her for a fortnight. We headed out to the Abel Tasman National Park where we spent the day hiking up and down (mainly up) along the coastline. Was such a beautiful walk, gorgeous beaches and scenery.

After Nelson we moved onto Westport for the night. Here we did Jet Boating......a supposedly exhilarating adrenaline filled experience, it was little more than a scenic boat ride with a few 360 turns thrown in. It was a good laugh, but wasn't quite the adventure we were after! It was then onto Lake Mahinapua. This is in the middle of nowhere and is known on the Kiwi Bus for it's fancy dress nights. Our theme was 'plastic bags" so our outfit had to be made out of bags, I went dressed as a pirate! It was a good fun night, everyone looked really good in their outfits and made an effort. Goes without saying the bus ride the next day was very quiet whilst people sat there feeling sorry for themselves.

Our destination the next day was Franz Josef where we spent 2 nights. Here is where you climb the Franz Josef Glacier. We chose to do the full day, 8 hour hike! We got kitted out with our warm coats, boots and crampons (spikes that go on your boots) and set off. It was a lot of tough uphill climbing up the ice but then you got to walk through it all, through little tunnels and really thin crevices. The ice was incredible, was so blue. Was a really good day, never done anything like it before. We were exhausted, cold, wet and with a few blisters by the end of it but it was so worth doing.

We then carried onto Wanaka. This is really pretty town with a huge lake and a snowy mountains back drop. Was lovely to go for a walk around and just chill. The next morning was the next adrenaline filled activity (more so than the jet boating) and we set off for the Wanaka air field. I then proceeded to jump out of a plane from 15,000ft!! The views were incredible as you could see all the snowy mountains and lakes surrounding Wanaka and the area. The flight up to 15,000ft had great views, and then it was awesome jumping from that height and being able to see them all. It was so cold jumping though, hard to catch your breath. Was a really good jump though, got some great photos and a dvd.

After Wanaka we continued on the bus to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. We went to the travel booking desk and booked our activities for when in Queenstown, including the Nevis Bungy. The first thing we did here was the Luge. We got the Gondola up the hill for some great views out over Queenstown and then you can go on the Luge run. Basically go-karting down a big hill with minimal brakes!! It was really good fun, was cold though as it started to snow! A good laugh and something different to do!

The next day we headed out to 'The Remarkables' ski fields and spent the day skiing here. Queenstown had a good dumping of snow a few days before we got there so there was some great snow when we arrived, really good powder and not much ice. It is not the biggest ski field here but there were enough runs and chair lifts to spend a full day there and considering it is the school holidays, the slopes weren't packed. Was a good day.

The next day was THE day, the Nevis day. The Nevis bungy is the 3rd highest bungy jump in the world, 134m above a canyon. After 2 sleepless nights worrying about it was time to go. When we got there I felt much more relaxed about it. We got harnessed up and then you get a little cable car out to the pod in the middle of the canyon which is where you jump from. You watch others jumping and it doesn't seem too bad, until it's your turn! You have to sit in this chair whilst they strap up your ankles to the bungy cord, you then have to shuffle along to the edge (you obviously can't walk as your feet are tied together so it's a long process shuffling along, a long time to start to look down and wonder what you're doing). When I got to edge and looked down I did have 2nd thoughts, but it was a case of 3,2,1 and I went. The first 2-3 seconds were terrifying as you can't feel the bungy cord on you, you are completely free falling, but then you start to feel it and can completely enjoy it. It's like nothing I have ever done before, the most amazing experience, best thing I have ever done. When you have finished bouncing you are supposed to pull a cord which then releases your ankles and flicks you round so you are in a sitting position whilst you are pulled back up to the pod. Of course, my cord got stuck and so I was pulled the whole way back up upside down! Head rush!!! Was so good though, I can't wait to do another one already!!!!

Since the action packed adventures we have chilled out a bit in Queenstown. It's a really nice place, I really like it here. We did a 3 hour hike yesterday up a hill to look out over Queenstown and the surrounding mountains. The snow is melting but it's still so pretty here.

Tomorrow I am heading off right down to the south of the South Island and will spend a week around here, having a look around. Should be a nice chilled out and relaxing week, probably needed after Queenstown.

xxx