Queenstown Fun

Queenstown is not only known for it's adrenaline sports but also being incredibly beautiful, hence fit for a queen. We spent the evenings watching to sunset light up the Remarkable mountains over the lake from the $7 per person per night Department of Conservation Campground.

We spent a few days in Queenstown climbing at Wye Creek and fixing the flat tyre that we had no tools for (it keeps happening to me in vans, hey Dad!). But we also got our fix of real adrenaline by bungy jumping 47m at Kawarauo Bridge in the morning and then taking a jet boat ride around the Kawarauo Gorge in the afternoon. Unfortunately the budget (or our frugal ways) meant no souvenir photos or video.

Turn your head and you'll see what we did!

Both activities were awesome (and I only save that word for special occasions).

Around South Island

In between climbing trips we have driven far to see some of the better sights of South Island. We drank coffee and counted Patagonia downees in Dunedin and saw some Albatross chicks at the Royal Albatross Center on the Otago Pennisular. Then after a cold night in the van we had breakfast by the large fish.

Not really one of the better sights but big and one of the better photos!

Then drove through 3 inches of snow to Te Anau and then onto Milford Sound which was very beautiful. A boat ride took us around the sound to look at the cliffs and waterfalls with a stop at the underwater observatory to see some real fish.

Christchurch, Castle Hill and down.

So we spent a few days in Christchurch and finally hired a campavan for our 2 months in New Zealand. Spent a day climbing at Mt Pleasent and Britten Crag in the hot sun - thought it was going to be cold here.

The very English Christchurch punting.Our Jucy Crib that we had for 2 nights before getting our bigger van.

On our way up to Castle Hill we went home (sort of).

Then to Castle Hill. Flock Hill, Quantum Fields and Spittle Hill were explored - very similar to Font - lime not sandstone, grass field not sandy forest, no crowds or polished holds.

Getting down from the Castle Hill boulders can somethimes be the exciting part.Our Jucy Cruiza - a Toyota HiAce in one of the free nightstops.

The Palm trees and view from Hanging Rock Crag near Timaru.

Bouldering in the mist at Hulk Hogan, near Duntroon.

We are now at Dunedin having spent some time yesterday at Long Beach (did a bit of climbing there too).

Goodbye Melbourne

We had a ball. Thanks for all the friendship.

Gotta keep truckin'

New Zealand here we come...