From queenstown we headed north through wanaka again up to franz joshef. We stopped off at various waterfalls, nice lakes / mountains on the way!! Our first full day there was very wet so we decided not to walk to the glacier, instead we went to the hot pools and stayed in our room reading books etc.
The next day we went for a walk to the glacier, we couldn't get that near cos it was supposedly dangerous, but we took loads of pics and did some hiking!
In the afternoon we drove to hokkikata again stopping off at waterfalls / nice views. We stayed in a very nice hostel by the sea. This morning we drove to westport again stopping off at nice views, including some cool rocks called the pancake rocks, and also these blow holes which fired water into the air from the waves.
Now we are in a hostel in westport and are heading to the abel tasman national park tomorrow, wer we may do some walking and kayaking.
Hope your all well.
Josh
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A Pretty Good Birthday
We've been very busy since we arrived in New Zealand. From Christchurch we drove to a place called Twizel in the mountains, stopping a gorges and amazing lakes on the way. After a night in a hostel there we headed to queenstown, stopping in a place called wanaka, which had another huge lake surrounded by mountains which was very pretty. We also went to puzzle world, which was full of optical illusions and a big maze.
We found our accommodation in Queenstown, it was a very nice lodge with everything we needed and more. The next day we booked some activities. First we went jet boating on the shotover river, going 70km per hour down very narrow gorges. In the evening we watched scary film all about backpackers getting tortured in Australia!
The next day was my birthday! Tom and I woke early for out bungy jump of the Kawarau bridge (the first commercial bungy site in the world) Its was 43m high with a freezing river below. It was an amazing feeling free falling for a few seconds before getting my head dunked into the water. I would do it again and higher anytime!
We the went back to meet Will and Dobson for lunch. They had been playing segway golf in the morning! type it in google!
In the afternoon we got picked up to go an do our sky dive. It was a 45 min drive to the other end of the lake, again with amazing views on the way. First there was a 20 minute scenic flight up to 12,000 ft. Viewing the lakes and mount cook as well as loads of other snowy mountains. We then jumped. The 45 seconds of freefall was awesome! And then the parachute down. I was allowed to take my camera strapped to me, so I got some really cool pictures.
In the evening I opened my presents from the guys, I cool Australia t-shirt and some new zealand boxers! We then went out for a ferg burger, a queenstown specialty which was very nice!
The next day we wer up early for our trip to Millford sound. It was a 4 hour drive through the mountains and tunnels. We went on out cruise around the fiord. It was very pretty, and I took far to many pictures! We then drove back part of the way to a lodge by a lake, and we spent the night there.
This morning we drove back to queenstown!
Tomorrow we head north towards franz joseph glacier!
Thanks for your birthday messages! Hope your all well.
Josh
We found our accommodation in Queenstown, it was a very nice lodge with everything we needed and more. The next day we booked some activities. First we went jet boating on the shotover river, going 70km per hour down very narrow gorges. In the evening we watched scary film all about backpackers getting tortured in Australia!
The next day was my birthday! Tom and I woke early for out bungy jump of the Kawarau bridge (the first commercial bungy site in the world) Its was 43m high with a freezing river below. It was an amazing feeling free falling for a few seconds before getting my head dunked into the water. I would do it again and higher anytime!
We the went back to meet Will and Dobson for lunch. They had been playing segway golf in the morning! type it in google!
In the afternoon we got picked up to go an do our sky dive. It was a 45 min drive to the other end of the lake, again with amazing views on the way. First there was a 20 minute scenic flight up to 12,000 ft. Viewing the lakes and mount cook as well as loads of other snowy mountains. We then jumped. The 45 seconds of freefall was awesome! And then the parachute down. I was allowed to take my camera strapped to me, so I got some really cool pictures.
In the evening I opened my presents from the guys, I cool Australia t-shirt and some new zealand boxers! We then went out for a ferg burger, a queenstown specialty which was very nice!
The next day we wer up early for our trip to Millford sound. It was a 4 hour drive through the mountains and tunnels. We went on out cruise around the fiord. It was very pretty, and I took far to many pictures! We then drove back part of the way to a lodge by a lake, and we spent the night there.
This morning we drove back to queenstown!
Tomorrow we head north towards franz joseph glacier!
Thanks for your birthday messages! Hope your all well.
Josh
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Its still not my birthday in England, but im celebrating anyway
By doind a bungy jump from a bridge into a river, and a sky dive from 12,000 ft!
Will fill you in on whats been happening later.
Josh
Will fill you in on whats been happening later.
Josh
Thursday, March 19, 2009
I like New Zealand
Our first day in new zealand was great. After a leisurely start we drove into the city centre of Christchurch and dobson somehow managed to drive through a no entry sign onto a tram line. It was very funny, we quickly turned round and found a car park.
After a while in the centre, buying a book about new zealand and wandering round cathedral square, we headed to the peninsular. It was an amazing drive with stunning scenery all around, mountains, lakes etc! We stopped at a cafe for lunch on the top of a hill, looking down a a harbor with mountains all around, amazing!
We then came home for another yummy home cooked meal! Its been great staying with Nigel, Ronnie and Tim, they have been very kind, its been great to just be in a home for a while!
Tomorrow we head for lake Tukapoku (or summit like that) and a hostel in Twizel, the the next day queenstown for 3 nights. Its hear you can do a lot of extreme sports. I may even do a bungy jump!
After a while in the centre, buying a book about new zealand and wandering round cathedral square, we headed to the peninsular. It was an amazing drive with stunning scenery all around, mountains, lakes etc! We stopped at a cafe for lunch on the top of a hill, looking down a a harbor with mountains all around, amazing!
We then came home for another yummy home cooked meal! Its been great staying with Nigel, Ronnie and Tim, they have been very kind, its been great to just be in a home for a while!
Tomorrow we head for lake Tukapoku (or summit like that) and a hostel in Twizel, the the next day queenstown for 3 nights. Its hear you can do a lot of extreme sports. I may even do a bungy jump!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sydney to New Zealand!
We had a good last day in Sydney just chilling out on Bondi Beach, thankfully not getting attacked by sharks, although that would have been quite exciting.
WE woke at 5.45am the next morning and left out grotty balmain backpackers hostel behind. A short taxi drive through the tunnels under the city brought us to the airport. We had some nice views of Sydney and the mountains of New Zealand on our way in which was cool. Once in Christchurch and through all the biological security stuff we picked up or station wagon and headed to some friends off wills, Nigel, Ronnie and ther son Tim. Its very nice to be cooked for (mmmm lasagne) and have a bed with a duvet, which smells clean! we also enjoyed walking on carpet as we haven't done so for ages!
Whilst here we have booked some hostels on hostel world. A place called Twizel, near a big lake and then a few nights in Queenstown!
I have been getting through money a little quicker than planned so iv got to try a cut back a bit in new zealdand, hopefully it will be ok, cos ther ius soo much cool stuff to do!
Hope your all well.
Josh
WE woke at 5.45am the next morning and left out grotty balmain backpackers hostel behind. A short taxi drive through the tunnels under the city brought us to the airport. We had some nice views of Sydney and the mountains of New Zealand on our way in which was cool. Once in Christchurch and through all the biological security stuff we picked up or station wagon and headed to some friends off wills, Nigel, Ronnie and ther son Tim. Its very nice to be cooked for (mmmm lasagne) and have a bed with a duvet, which smells clean! we also enjoyed walking on carpet as we haven't done so for ages!
Whilst here we have booked some hostels on hostel world. A place called Twizel, near a big lake and then a few nights in Queenstown!
I have been getting through money a little quicker than planned so iv got to try a cut back a bit in new zealdand, hopefully it will be ok, cos ther ius soo much cool stuff to do!
Hope your all well.
Josh
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sydney Sights
We had a good day in the olympic park, after seeing coldplay the night before we thougghht we should see it in the light. We swam in the pool next to the olympic pool which was cool. we tyhen nearly got lost in sydeney trying to find a takeaway.
The next day we took the campers back and found our grotty hostel. we accidently drove over the harbvour bridge again, and paying more money! we then wandered around the opera house and bought a transport ticket for sydney. We got the ferry to manyly beach and hung around ther for a bit, then it ther was a huge thunder storm!
Yesterday we went to hillsongs churhc which was cool, it was sooo massive. In the afternoon we went to bondi beach and looked around the shops.
Today we are in manly beach in the sun!
New Zealand on Weednesday!
The next day we took the campers back and found our grotty hostel. we accidently drove over the harbvour bridge again, and paying more money! we then wandered around the opera house and bought a transport ticket for sydney. We got the ferry to manyly beach and hung around ther for a bit, then it ther was a huge thunder storm!
Yesterday we went to hillsongs churhc which was cool, it was sooo massive. In the afternoon we went to bondi beach and looked around the shops.
Today we are in manly beach in the sun!
New Zealand on Weednesday!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sydney and COLDPLAY!
We arrived in sydney and imediatley the two campers got separated as we went over the harbour bridge! we spent the next hour looking for each other and somehow found each other. WE the went to the visitor info which wasnt all that helpful, and then headed to a camp site taking pictures of the harbour bride and opera house on the way.
We then set off to the olympic park to see coldplay at the acer arena! Firstly the bus didnt come, so we went back to the van park and ordered a taxi, which didnt come, by this time the support act had started and we wer sitting outside the van park! I was gettin a bit worried, but the others wer all calm. We decided to get a camper and drive ther, which worked fine and the parking wasnt too expensive cos we couldnt fit into the multistory carpark! Loads of other people wer arriving late aswell, we got into the 21,000 seater stadium and the support act wer playing. I think it was used for judo or badminton in the olympics.
Coldplay wer amazing, loads of cool light effects, amazing songs!
Not sure wat we are doing today, we drop our campers off 2moro and have booked a hostel for four nights near the centre. We will probably go to bondi beach, around the centre and maybe hillsongs church on sunday.
Hope ur all well.
Josh
We then set off to the olympic park to see coldplay at the acer arena! Firstly the bus didnt come, so we went back to the van park and ordered a taxi, which didnt come, by this time the support act had started and we wer sitting outside the van park! I was gettin a bit worried, but the others wer all calm. We decided to get a camper and drive ther, which worked fine and the parking wasnt too expensive cos we couldnt fit into the multistory carpark! Loads of other people wer arriving late aswell, we got into the 21,000 seater stadium and the support act wer playing. I think it was used for judo or badminton in the olympics.
Coldplay wer amazing, loads of cool light effects, amazing songs!
Not sure wat we are doing today, we drop our campers off 2moro and have booked a hostel for four nights near the centre. We will probably go to bondi beach, around the centre and maybe hillsongs church on sunday.
Hope ur all well.
Josh
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Byron Bay to Newcastle
We had a fun surfing lesson with an eccentric Aussie called terry, who kept going on about cricket, but we didn't really no wat he was on about as we don't follow cricket that much! By the end all three of us could stand on the board on the small waves so that was gd.
That evening we had some yummy fish and chips by the beach. The next day we went to the most easternly point of Australia, cape byron. We saw turtles and dolphins from the cliffs which wer cool, we then went for a body board and swam our to this ship wreck which i jumped off (don't worry mum, it was safe).
The next day we headed south again, we managed to buy this camper book of this guy next to us at byron with loads of free camp sites in so we decided to head to these. stopping off at a few places along the way: Nimbin (a hippy village) Ballina, Grafton, until we reached a nice camp site in a national park called red rock. We saws kangaroos in the wild and watched the sunset.
The next morning we went to woolgoolga were we went for a body board, we then went to coffs harbour were we went for a little walk round the headland. We stayed the night in a free rest stop just of the highway south of coffs harbour.
It was very wet in the morning, we drove to port maquire, and the further south to the great lakes. We stopped in taree and then forster were we had a swimj in the pool by the sea in a got between showers. We stopped in a free site of the road again.
In the morning we went to a tourist info centre and found out about these massive sand dune dessert thing, so we decided to go there, we had to go over a river on a ferry which was exciting, we then got out body boards and did some sand surfing / jumping / rolling and got some cool pics. We then headed to hawks nest which had a nice beach, we had a good body board, the waves wer massive and very strong, so that was gd.
This morning we woke up in the rain, packed up and headed to Newcastle and found some free Internet in a library! I think we may go and watch a film in a bit as the weather still isn't that great. I think we are in the tail end of cyclone hamish which is hitting cairns at the mo!
And 2moro we head down to sydney for coldplay!! hopefully we will be able to find somewhere to stay!!
Hope everything is well wer you are (uk, holland, kenya, canada, new zealand etc!!!)
Josh
That evening we had some yummy fish and chips by the beach. The next day we went to the most easternly point of Australia, cape byron. We saw turtles and dolphins from the cliffs which wer cool, we then went for a body board and swam our to this ship wreck which i jumped off (don't worry mum, it was safe).
The next day we headed south again, we managed to buy this camper book of this guy next to us at byron with loads of free camp sites in so we decided to head to these. stopping off at a few places along the way: Nimbin (a hippy village) Ballina, Grafton, until we reached a nice camp site in a national park called red rock. We saws kangaroos in the wild and watched the sunset.
The next morning we went to woolgoolga were we went for a body board, we then went to coffs harbour were we went for a little walk round the headland. We stayed the night in a free rest stop just of the highway south of coffs harbour.
It was very wet in the morning, we drove to port maquire, and the further south to the great lakes. We stopped in taree and then forster were we had a swimj in the pool by the sea in a got between showers. We stopped in a free site of the road again.
In the morning we went to a tourist info centre and found out about these massive sand dune dessert thing, so we decided to go there, we had to go over a river on a ferry which was exciting, we then got out body boards and did some sand surfing / jumping / rolling and got some cool pics. We then headed to hawks nest which had a nice beach, we had a good body board, the waves wer massive and very strong, so that was gd.
This morning we woke up in the rain, packed up and headed to Newcastle and found some free Internet in a library! I think we may go and watch a film in a bit as the weather still isn't that great. I think we are in the tail end of cyclone hamish which is hitting cairns at the mo!
And 2moro we head down to sydney for coldplay!! hopefully we will be able to find somewhere to stay!!
Hope everything is well wer you are (uk, holland, kenya, canada, new zealand etc!!!)
Josh
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Sunshine coast and the Gold Coast
ok, not got long to write blog so sorry about spelling. and also its a really wierd key board
We ad a gd day in australia zoo, highlights being stroking kangeroos and koalas, watching the croc show and seeing wombats and tazmanian devils, later n the afternoon we headed to a near by beah on he sunshine coast and did some body surfng, cos we had no boards.
We en headed souh throught brisbane, topping on the side f the rd in a sunurb for sleep. We woke to find ourselves surounded by road woks which was quite funny, so we jjust drove of as quickly as pos!!!
We headed south again, so he gold cast, finding a camp sie in surfers paradise, which is very buil up with sky scraaper apartments etc. We bought so boody boards and went into the sea, he waves wer ok, but woolacombe had ben btter!
This moning we eaded south again stopping i byrn bay,which is a really nice beach. We went body boarding and tomannd went 4 a run down the beach, so we are very tired now. We are also now in new souh wales, so the clocks went forard 1 hour, so wer now 11 hours ahead of uk.
We have booked some srfin lessons or 2moro, and they ggarantee u can ride fr 40 meter our ur money back, so that should be uun.
josh
We ad a gd day in australia zoo, highlights being stroking kangeroos and koalas, watching the croc show and seeing wombats and tazmanian devils, later n the afternoon we headed to a near by beah on he sunshine coast and did some body surfng, cos we had no boards.
We en headed souh throught brisbane, topping on the side f the rd in a sunurb for sleep. We woke to find ourselves surounded by road woks which was quite funny, so we jjust drove of as quickly as pos!!!
We headed south again, so he gold cast, finding a camp sie in surfers paradise, which is very buil up with sky scraaper apartments etc. We bought so boody boards and went into the sea, he waves wer ok, but woolacombe had ben btter!
This moning we eaded south again stopping i byrn bay,which is a really nice beach. We went body boarding and tomannd went 4 a run down the beach, so we are very tired now. We are also now in new souh wales, so the clocks went forard 1 hour, so wer now 11 hours ahead of uk.
We have booked some srfin lessons or 2moro, and they ggarantee u can ride fr 40 meter our ur money back, so that should be uun.
josh
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Whitsundays and driving!
We had a fun day in the whitsdays, cruising around in a catamaran. Whitehaven beach was amazing, and we did a bit of snorkeling in our super attractive stinger suits! We also got to go in the captains cabin which was cool.
The next day we headed south again, stopping off at a very nice swimming pool in Mackay. Then after that there was nothing for 6 hours drive, so that was fun. Swapping drivers every now and then, eventually stopping for the night in a free camp site just north of rockhamton. We then traveled further south to Harvey bay were we could get to fraser island. We booked two nights in a nice yha campsite, and a day trip to fraser for the next day.
Fraser island was amazing, after the barge trip over we got into out 4wd bus and went on a very bumpy ride through the jungle, which we all found very fun. After a short bush walk we headed to the massive beach/highway/airport! Basically its a long beach, which you can drive down at 85km/ph, but people just sitting on the beach have right of way, and occasionally planes land! It was well fun, we stooped off at eli creek and walked up the fresh water stream, then at a rusty shipwreck in the sand. We also went on a short plane flight over the sea and island taking some amazing pics. Seeing jungle, grassland, sand blowouts and the massive beach from the air was spectacular! We then got back in the lorry and went to lake mckenzie wer we went for a swim in the clear waters, wer we attempted to build a four person tower for probably the 100th time, and failed.
This morning will, dobson and I went to a local baptist church which was interesting, a small congregation, but lots of friendly people. We the drove down to Noosa Heads wer we are now. Tom is very excited cos the waves are getting bigger!
2moro we may be going to Australia zoo, which is just north of Brisbane, so that should be fun.
Hope everything is well wer you are.
The next day we headed south again, stopping off at a very nice swimming pool in Mackay. Then after that there was nothing for 6 hours drive, so that was fun. Swapping drivers every now and then, eventually stopping for the night in a free camp site just north of rockhamton. We then traveled further south to Harvey bay were we could get to fraser island. We booked two nights in a nice yha campsite, and a day trip to fraser for the next day.
Fraser island was amazing, after the barge trip over we got into out 4wd bus and went on a very bumpy ride through the jungle, which we all found very fun. After a short bush walk we headed to the massive beach/highway/airport! Basically its a long beach, which you can drive down at 85km/ph, but people just sitting on the beach have right of way, and occasionally planes land! It was well fun, we stooped off at eli creek and walked up the fresh water stream, then at a rusty shipwreck in the sand. We also went on a short plane flight over the sea and island taking some amazing pics. Seeing jungle, grassland, sand blowouts and the massive beach from the air was spectacular! We then got back in the lorry and went to lake mckenzie wer we went for a swim in the clear waters, wer we attempted to build a four person tower for probably the 100th time, and failed.
This morning will, dobson and I went to a local baptist church which was interesting, a small congregation, but lots of friendly people. We the drove down to Noosa Heads wer we are now. Tom is very excited cos the waves are getting bigger!
2moro we may be going to Australia zoo, which is just north of Brisbane, so that should be fun.
Hope everything is well wer you are.
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