It's been over a week since we updated so there's quite a lot to write about!  It all started with the 3hour ferry from Wellington to Picton on the south island, thankfully the weather was lovely and the sea very calm.  We didn't see any dolphins but the views of the mountains and 'sounds' (coves) were great. I also enjoyed Mikey squirting himself with ketchup at breakfast because we couldn't work out how to open the sachet.  Ketchup-faced.

Our bus driver had told us two stories before we got on the ferry; the first was that it was really important we change our currency on the boat because they have different notes in the south island- cue Mikey saying "that is ridiculous!" (took him a moment to get the joke).  The second story was that if we showed our 'stray' buspass on the ferry we could get our laundry done for free! Luckily we had already done our washing the day before because we all fell for it.  Taxi said on one bus of 19 people, 16 had taken their washing onto the boat! 

We found the orange bus at Picton, having told Taxi off for the laundry lie and set off for the Abel Tasman national park.  We'd got half an hour down the road when Taxi got a phonecall to say a girl had been waiting in the wrong place for the bus..doh.  Fortunately we had stopped at a vineyard so we all got a tasting of about 7 'Hunter' wines for $2 while he went back to the port to collect her.   That evening we stayed at old McDonalds farm- no joke.  Lots of llamas (in case we hadn't seen enough in Chile) cats, dogs and chickens to play with.  A group of us cooked chilli con carne for about 15 which went down very well.

The next morning was spent doing a coastal walk in the national park, weather was great again and we walked up through the hills and back along the beach.  Then it was back on the bus for the long drive the Barrytown, population 43! Stunning views along the way and a stop to pickup bad-taste clothes from the charity shop for our bad taste party in the pub that night.  We all wore ridiculous clothes for most of the afternoon (lots of dresses for the boys of course) and got some funny looks when we got off the bus at lookout points.  Had a great night in the hotel and roast dinner supplied, none of us won the skydive for our costumes though!

The next day we sampled some of the arts and crafts of Barrytown, while some of our group went off to make massive knives we took the safer option and did some bone carving.  It was like being back in a DT lesson at school but our necklaces look much better than anything I ever made at school!  We went for a walk on the beach looking for greenstone, but no luck.  We got back just before it started pouring with rain!

After spending two nights in Barrytown the weather had got worse and we drove to Franz Joseff stopping as little as possible because walking in the rain isn't that fun without wellies.  Stayed at the Rainforest Retreat, another great hostel- best kitchen yet and the weather brightened up enough for us to go in the outside hot tub! Bumped into some guys we'd met at Base in Auckland so had a good chinwag with them then it was early to bed as we had to be up at 6.30 ready for the glacier walk!

We set off at 7.30am suited and booted, the weather had come good for us again lovely blue skies.  It was much easier than the volcano but great fun squeezing through cracks in the ice.  It was like being in the Snow Queen's palace from Narnia, very surreal to be in a giant block of ice in between mountains.  It was over 6hours in total and the guides did a great job of hacking out steps for us in the ice. 

When we got back to the hostel it was straight on the bus for our drive to Makaroura.  We drove through the Haast pass, supposedley one of the best drives in the world.  So many mountains, lakes and waterfalls to see and forests of trees that looked like Ents.  It was our friend Simon's birthday so we had a good celebration and loads of cake in our hostel that night.

We left a little late the next day due to sore heads and winning free cooked breakfast the night before.  It was the biggest thing I've ever seen, luckily Mikey could help me out and we managed to avoid the mushrooms.  Weather had gone bad again so we drove to Queenstown stopping only at Puzzleworld in Wanaka.  The illusion room made us feel sick but the puzzles and maze were great fun.  The only other stop was the Bridge bungee just outside of Queenstown, guess who jumped?... with a bit more confidence than last time Mikey chose to get dunked right in the water.  It's the first commercial bungee in the world, so a place of great cultural importance to New Zealand.

We're staying for six days in Queenstown, I think it's our favourite place so far, scenery is great and it's a really vibrant little town.  I've had a bit of a cold the last few days but Mikey has been enjoying himself enough for both of us.  We've been up the gondola for the best views of the town and had 5 goes on the luge (kind of sledge/gokart track).  We went up to the Nevis (biggest bungee in the world at the moment) yesterday. I was scared enough just watching everyone but Mikey was very brave and did a great dive out of the cable car at 134m, as you do.

We've had a lazy day today just exploring the town but tomorrow is going to be full on with us both doing the canyon swing (I might cry but I've decided I can't let Mikey do all the ridiculous things by himself) in the morning and white water rafting in the afternoon.  Oh and tonight is Mikey's third and final bungee of New Zealand, though probably not of the world tour...we'll keep you all posted.

Lots of love and happy nearly birthday to James McD (hope you aren't too busy to celebrate)
Jo and Mikeyxxxxxxxxxx