I have been in a helicopter and survived.

Steve has given the outlines- here are the details.

We spent a long time at reception grilling the girl about what to wear and what to take- I had a childhood trauma around this issue and have to be fully prepared.

After half an hour we had two fully packed rucksacks and felt we were dressed for any eventuality. The pilot Steve arrived and said forget that theres no room for your rucksacks! Panic! They are so laid back here they waited for me to stop flapping and decide on appropriate footwear (very important for a girl) and a fleece to carry. It was boiling and I still think I looked odd in my walking boots and a summer dress- still looks are not everything. After that we needed the loo again- we met NJ a leicester born canadian and had our safety lesson which is how not to get your head chopped off in a chopper. Nice.

It was more comfortable than you might think- not unlike the toy rides in Croatia and Newquay only you go much higher, are well strapped in and wear cool headphones with a madonna speaker. Brill. Also no one comes to tell you to get off or chase you away.

We had planned our meal nicely so that when we had the twenty or so hump back bridge moments our meals stayed put- Lucky NJ. Steve had squeezed my Gaviscon into his bum bag but I didn't need it. Great!

Pilot Steve was busy Flying, we were busy looking and taking photos- I think I only whooped once ( once is enough). Steve chatted to pilot Steve like he does to taxi drivers- I love that.

We landed in Milford Sounds and Pilot Steve took us for an ice cream while telling jokes- he was rubbish at this so I told him a few to keep him going. When we were sitting in the cafe pilot Steve admired my Ray Bans (someone tell Timmy) and then Steve's Oakley's that we got in brunai for a tenner. Pilot Steve doesn't seem to have heard of counterfit designer brands- kinda got a bit embarrassing.

Next- back in the chopper for a trip to a glacier- WE ACTUALLY LANDED ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN IN SNOW. We were not allowed to go far from the chopper but I managed a neat snow ball at Steve. it was very hot out there although I got the point then that my flip flops (called jandals in NZ) would not have been good so hurray for my walking boots. Check out the photos- wicked!

The whole trip was actually Awesome and me and Steve both managed to say it at least once without feeling silly (and actually meaning it!)

We arrived back at Queenstown and I was speachless- I couldn't describe how I felt and needed time to assimilate what I had seen. Steve felt it was well worth the money. AWESOME