Bonjour from a bloody freezing New Zealand.

Going to have to do this at speed otherwise frostbite will set in!

Arrived in Auckland and managed to sort out renting a car despite the fact we didn't have credit cards of driving licenses! Headed north to the BAy of Islands - v beautiful place. Didn't some not so strenuous walks as we didn't want to rush into anything....needed an ajustment period.

Stayed up there in a place called Waitangi for a couple of days before heading south to the west coast. Pitched up in Raglan - a v groovy town. Took in the scenery around those parts on a couple of walks and the occasional drive when it got too cold!

Then headed to Lake Taupo in the middle of the north island. Camped right on the edge ofthe lake - all v picturesque except for the fact that we awoke to find the tent covered in frost - bloody chilly. Walked in the nearby national parks before heading north again to the geothermal town of Rotorua. The entire place stunk of sulphur but it was warm and that was all that mattered! Managed to find the only free place to swim in the geothermal waters - along with a v odd old naked man who disappeared without a trace, leaving his clothes behind. Very bizzare! Had a lovely night's sleep as the campsite ground was heated....spent the following morning in the campsite's hot mineral pools!

Onwards once more to Mount Manganui - where we stayed with one of Ed's friends from school. V nice to have a home cooked supper, watch a film and sleep in a real bed! Climbed the mountain the following morning before heading back to lake Taupo to.......SKY DIVE.

That's right we threw ourselves out of a plane at 15,000ft. It was Epic! V good fun as we all went up together - 15 of us crammed into a frightfully small plane (us 5, the 5 chaps we were attached to and the 5 cameramen). V.v.v funny. Alice Bush - prepare youreslf, i'm going to get revenge and make you watch the dvd thousands of times!

Post leap we headed further south to Wanganui. A v nice town. Rocked up at the campsite in a hail storm and the v jolly lady refused to let us camp so she gave us v cosy cabins for the same price - needless to say we spent two nigths there!

On our way to stay with some people outside wellington today. Planning on climbing Mount Bruce this afternoon.

More news when we hit the south island chaps.

lots of love xxxx