Kiwi Experience - Part 3

I know, I know, it's been ages! Sorry! Lets just say that the west coast of the south island is remote and wild and the internet/phone signal is either terribly slow or expensive!!! Today I finally arrived in Queenstown where I will be for 5 nights with easy internet access so more posts coming up :)

Have quite a few photos to share from the last week, where I have been to the Centre of New Zealand, Nelson, Westport, Cape Foulwind, Lake Mahanipua, Franz Josef, Wanaka and around numerous lakes, mountains, relaxed in glacier hot pools and climbed a glacier!!! See - I have been busy!! 

Here are some pics... :) (would like to apologise for not remembering all the exact names for particular lakes, mountains etc, but they are beautiful all the same!)

Sunset from the centre of New Zealand (Nelson)

 Centre of NZ!!! Check out the cheesy grin! :D

 Nelson Lakes National Park

 Crazy british boys from the bus about to get a freezing dunk! (A bit chuffed with my photo taking timing here though :P)

 Beach bonfire in Westport with the group

 Cape Foulwind (closet point to OZ)

 Beach sunset at Lake Mahinipua (yes I know, the lake is behind me here, this is the sea!)

 Sunset at Franz Josef (the first time we saw blue sky in 2 days!)

 Near Queenstown (whilst we watched our Bus drivers do a tandem bungy jump!)

 Puzzling World - Wanaka

Mangee and Josh (our drivers) - Tandem Bungee Jump! (oops it's the wrong way round on the blog but it took an age to upload so you will just have to turn your heads for now!)

The Tongariro Crossing

So today, I walked 19.4km up and down the Tongariro Crossing in the Tongariro National Park near Taupo! This was one of the things I definitely wanted to do in New Zealand and it was AMAZING!!!! (and well worth the aching legs at the end of it! This walk is classed as the best one-day walk in New Zealand and among the top 10 in the world!! And hope you can see why...

This walk is across the ridge between one giant mountain and one huge volcano AKA Mount Doom (for all you LOTR fans :)

I was so proud for completing this walk (classed as 'challenging') without much trouble and only a grazed knee - whoop whoop!

A seriously amazing day, looky looky looky at a few pics...

Recognise the volcano??? (It's active btw and smells of sulpher A LOT!) 

Took us 45 mins to get down this bit - super dangerous and slippy!



Yarrangobilly Caves and the Australian Alps

Went on a beautiful day trip today with Rachel and Dubs. About 2 hours drive up into the Australian Alps and to Yorrangobilly, where there are some stunning caves to tour, a lovely riverside mountain walk and a hot spring swimming pool! All in all very lovely day complete with picnic, ice-cream and swimming (oh and walking up very steep hills in blazing heat! I'll sleep well tonight!).

Have a few piccies :)

So my time in Wagga Wagga has come to an end, I'm leaving tomorrow to go back to Sydney on the train. I have lots of lovely photos to share with you from the last few days, I will try and fit in sharing them over the next few days before I go to New Zealand next week!!! Thanks for being patient with me :)