Since Queenstown things have taken a little dip on the fun-factor scale. I had anticipated this slump in adrenaline and/or alcohol fuelled activities and it was always an inevitability.

Queenstown to Christchurch was almost 7 hours worth of Cruising through the country roads. There were a few people I already knew on the bus from before which made it bearable but with the lack of sleep and dissapointment of missing out on a few activities I wasn't in my normal fun-loving mode.
Christchurch itself was a dump. Trying to describe the city is a boring task in itself but I'd go along the lines of a lifeless London; dirty, dry and no atmosphere. Therefore, I didn't get to say any proper goodbye's to the original Kiwi crew.

In the morning low and behold, the best Kiwi Exp. driver turns up in the "Big Green Shag Bus"; Eamon.
So travelling to Kaikoura was a little more of a memorable experience. We stopped of to view a Seal colony close by to the town of Kaikoura, surrounded by two peninsulas.
Unfortunately the adult seals had kept there distance from the intrusive public and so my lens couldn't get any where near the slippery b*****s.

In Kaikoura I crossed another activity off my list, a little like Earl but better. I went swimming with Dolphins. It was cold, freezing in fact, but awesome all the same. A few dolphins tried to confuse me by circling round me again and again. I managed to keep it up for a bit but got bored and moved on quickly.

After Kaikoura, we took a small tramp down a little scenic path to where seal cubs are often left in a sort of waterfall creche by their parents. Low and behold 3 l'il ones were having an innocent bath, ignorant to the camera action taking place meters from them.

Our journey north included a stop at Picton to grab a quick snack and head to the ferry terminal for the return trip. 4 hours later I was in the Capital, Wellington.
After a trip to the museum which was interesting but not a touch on the museums of London, a group of us headed for the cinema to see JackAss 2. What a bunch of crazy's, 'nough said.

Wellington to Taupo was a fair drive with lots of views of mountain ranges inculding one that most people know as Mount Doom from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Upon arrival I headed straight for the Freefall centre and got my 15,000 foot dive on again, this time just me and the jumpmaster; no cameraman distracting me from the thrilling experience.
I asked my co-diver if we could do some crazy stuff this time so he got us to dive straight towards Earth with the plane doing the same about 20 meters away. Again, the weather was perfect and the views, Sweet As. I love sky-diving so much I'm seriously thinking about getting a license for it.

Today I finally clambered aboard the expedition bus heading for the Tangariro Crossing at 6.20am. We were promised great weather and maybe a couple of showers late afternoon. I managed to finish the 18km walk in record time due to the fact that it never stopped raining all day. On a serious note, I've never been so cold in my life, it was an experience to remember for all the wrong reasons on what is supposably the best trek in New Zealand and one of the best in the World. The crossing takes you over two peaks, through active volcanic areas where the sulphur is extremely potent and back down through rainforest by a white water river.

So now I'm going out for a large meal and lots of beer. I feel I've earnt the reward, my legs are aching as I type...

...until Auckland,
Over & Out.