Hang-gliding off Coronet Peak. Wow. Just wow. Word of mouth itinerary stops - The Last Resort Backpackers.

Yeah so the chick at the Franz Josef YHA said "gee you´re brave" when I told her I was planning to camp in Wanaka.The hint was right there really, but I ignored it.The night itself wasn´t so bad but making myself get out of the sleeping bag in the morning was pretty rough!. Word of mouth itinerary stops - Puzzling World (their clock runs backwards.Perhaps Nelson´s clock would not seem as ugly if it went backwards), Cadrona Pub, Big Picture Wines a...

Had quite a few conservations with tourists from European countries before I got to FJ about why exactly it´s cool and you should go there.Before I´d seen it it was really hard to reply to the question "but isn´t it just a big block of ice?".Went on a half day glacier trek, complete with crampons (sp?) and it was just wicked.It really is a very very very big block of ice. :-) Word of mouth itinerary stops - glacier, FJ YHA, Bushmans Roadkill Cafe ...

Nick/Rach, it turns out those "lock you in" public toilets are a chain and they all play the same Karen Carpenter song! Word of mouth itinerary stops - Punakaiki Rocks and the Truman Track Other stops - Punakaiki, Monteiths Brewery Tour (mmm beer), Stewart Niman photographic gallery (I want to be this guy when I grow up)

Checked out the seal colony at Cape Foulwind (love the name!) Stayed in an eco backpackers in the middle of nowhere (Charleston), about half an hour south of Westport. The other guests didn´t make it so I had the entire place to myself - kinda cool and kinda weird at the same time. Word of mouth itinerary stops - Buller Gorge, Murchison and eco backpackers