so il eft you in christchurch....last wednesday when i hopped on to the stray bus...a bus company (which i didint really want to do but its the easier option) which takes you away from all the tourist spots. my first stop was kaikkora....about 3 hours north of christchurch....a very beautiful place...famous for its crayfish and the fact that th snow covered mountians run into the sea....we were going to go swimming with dolphins but it was alittle too windy....went for a wealk to see a seal colony and then after watching a knights tale (very funny film) we hopped off to bed.

left kaikora on thursday we left for picton..the gateway to the south island...very beautiful...surrounded by high moutnians and lots and lots of seals!! we went for a walk in the afternoon...along the snout...a walk along the picton peninsula...with millie and bella the hostel dogs...we stayed at the villa and it felt like you wer at home...taking the dogs for a walk...a proper kitchen. in the evening they make a very delicious homemade apple crumble with vanailla ice cream...very good!

on friday we got back on the bus with new people who had come over from the north island and headed over to abel tasman national park. we stopped at hunters vineyard for a drop of plonk then drove over to the national park. we stayed at a a place called marahau...in cabins in the middle of park...very nice. had a few beers and some mussels then up early for a full day kayaking...that was such a good daybut oh my god..my arms felt like they were about to fall off at the end...very hard work but really enjoyed it. in total i was kayaiking for about 6 hours on the sea...got back and curtis my kayaking partner cooked dinner...so io didnt have to lift a finger. had a few beers with the other guys that went kayaking but early to bed to gt up for the sky dive in the morning!! one of the guys i was kayaking with...i knew him from boxing day last year at the races in syndey...he was trying to get it on with ali (she wasnt having any of it!) very funny when i had actually remembered where i knew him from!

i was up at 6am on sunday morning to get picked up at 7.30am to do my 13000ft sky dive. not really nervous until got to the airfield....i was on the second plane and the secopnd person out of opur plane to jump....i was so scared when jono, the guy before left...he just disappeared..then i was very scared!!! it was the best thing i have ever done...i screamed for a good time of the freefall which was 50 seconds but once the parachute was open it was very calm and really good. i really enjoyed the freefall once i knew i was not dead!!! i got the pics and the dvd so they will be on the way home soon!! very good and will definatly do it again!! i did my jump over the national park, so i could see the snow covered mountains, the turquoise sea, the farmland. i could even see the north island 270km away..just amazing!

after there we headed towards barry town but we stopped off at punakaiki...rocks that llok like pancakes from the erosion. we also stopped at cape foulwind to see some more seal....all good....i couldnt stop smiling all day after the jump...on a high!!!

that evening it was fancy dress, using bin bags so i made myself a dress and ended up a bit like mrs dracula!!!(i pinched a cape from the fancy dress box!) the guys had to dress up as girls...good night!

we left barrytown for franz josef on the monday morning...we stopped at a beach...skimmed some stones and had a bit of a play on the beach and arrived at franz josef at about 6pm. had some dinner and then i entered a pool competeion which didnt last long for me, so early to bed for the galciers walk in the morning.

tuesdaywas the full day glaceier walk....very good but very tiring and cold ...as you would imagine a glacier is.we saw some ice caves, massive cravasses and had a really good day...then headed off to the pub for a few beers which resulted in getting in at 3.30am only to be up at 6.30am to leave....not good!!! but it was a good night so thats all that matters!!!

on wednesday morning with a hangover in place we left for makoura. we stopped off at thunder creek water falls, the beach and the haast visitor centre. all very beautiful...as the whole journey has been...all the time the scenery has just been amazing...its less dramaitc on the west coats due to the rainforest that covers it but its just so pretty....even in the rain (even though only had one day so far of the rain). we stopped at lake matheson which is the lake that is famous for seeing the relfection of the mountains in it but it was raining so didnt manage to see them. so last night was karoeke...i had to sing so i chose kaiser cheifs..oh my god. it was ok but i hate it...not very good at singing as you all know but was good fun.

so today we have driven from makoura to queenstown. we stopped off at puzzle adventures in wanaka....its a fun place with illusions and a maze...so played at kids for anhour...very good fun. the scenery has been amzaing today...lakes and snow covered mountians in the glorious sunshine...love it. so tonight its pizza and beers then tomorrow i am doing a 136m bungy jump. its the thirds highest in the world....only just been changed to the third place so its very high!!

having a really good time...i love it here...yipee for new zealnd!!!