Orchard Cottage Queenstown

... Rings. Off we head to Queenstown, where our hotel this time was much better, with a la carte menu etc.. well it was chicken on mash potato! It amazes me how people think so highly of this type of menu.. its just another fancy name for whats on your plate! But we were overlooking the stunning Lake Wakatipu, so the setting was perfect.


Next day was our free day, and I'm booked on to do a 4WD safari in the morning and shopping for afternoon.. night all.

Just outside Wanaka we discovered a place called Puzzling World, which has a huge leaning tower just outside. After the success of the whimsical water works we decided to take a look. On going inside we were met with a cafe, with about 20 tables, each with about 5 little puzzles on. Dad (Jon's) would have loved it - they were all little wooden things and just like the stuff he has at home. We skipped past these ...

... that were the pull. We checked out the buildings in the morning but in the afternoon it was all about the wine, we did a tour and hit six wineries, had a cheeseboard and got a little tipsy to say the least. We had another bottle when we got home then went to the pub. I ended up drunkenly asking the landlord if he'd be showing the Spurs match in the morning, he agreed to rent me a room for a reduced rate to watch the match so long as I cleared off sharpish ...

... sky dive the freefall is much smaller but its all about the psychological build up and the courage to push yourself over the edge whereas in the skydive your so high up in the sky that height isn’t an issue. Im so glad I did and think I have completed my adrenalin things-to-do list. Chilled out in the evening at the cinema and went to see The Hangover….so funny. Glad to finish on a high after a terrible week.

Saturday 25th ……….woke up at 6 am to go on ...

... came across the people of Vanuatu. Originally 'land-diving' was only done by the women, and involved jumping off a high tower with only vines attached to their feet. This was eventually taken over and done by the men to show their courage to the women. The jump on the Kawarau bridge is 43m high and three brave people on our bus did the jump. Then we head into the centre ...

... boat! Cool huh!

We got back to Queenstown at half 9 (after a brief dinner stop in Te Anu) and i went straight to bed because i felt rubbish but Jess went for a quick drink with Sally (our room mate if i hadn't mentioned it)

Day 9:

SO up we got and headed down to the station to meet the bus for the Skippers Canyon Jet. I say bus it was a massive 4WD army-esk van. Cool.
The drive was to take us an hour and we drove up through the clouds towards the ski ...

... from long rubber bands attatching you to the platform was nearly as scary as the fall. They sent another rope down the bungee cord to pull you back up. When the other cord reached the bottom of the one I was hanging from, it made a massive clunking noise that scared the life out of me, as I thought the bungee cord was snapping. After being pulled back up to the platform, I was hovering over the gorge, just as high as I started, which was ...

... the ferry to the SAouth Island where we stayed at Nelson for an evenuing and went to a local ale taster. Then on to Westport where we went Jet boating, lots of 360 spins and splashes which was great. We then travelled further south and spent a night at an old pub, with Venison stew for dinner and a fancy dress party where Ashleys costume as a pimp was so great (the photos will show the details). We have also visted the longest maze in the world and the berautiful Milford ...

... a long time for this. I smile with admiration. He cracks off the top with victorious flair and holds it up high like a trophy. He tilts me a wink and takes a celebratory swig. Good lad. I nod wisely letting him know that I'm proud and watch as he skips off back to bed. I sit for a moment before turning my attention back to my coffee, and my book.



Lucky *******.

... afternoon, Lucie was back and she was still a bundle of nerves from her jump, we went and picked up her dvd and then went shopping, it is so cold here I feel the urge to buy thermals, well they are gonna be quite neccessary I think. Tomorrow is gonna be the first day that I am actually going to be on my own - Lucie leaves and Tara has not yet arrived, but luckily I have a few things that I need to get sorted out, but it will be strange - I will probably feel ...