A Perfect Ending.

For the last 5 days of our trip we decided to have a rest, it's surprising how tired you get from moving from place to place every day and also living in a van for 12 weeks can get a bit claustrophobic.

Step up Fiji!

We'd booked ourselves 4 nights onto Robinson Crusoe Island and treated ourselves to a lodge, we haven't had our own bathroom for about 3 months.

About a month ago Fiji experienced a cyclone which destroyed many villages and also flooded a lot of the country. We hadn't heard anything from the Island until a week before our arrival. Unfortunately the jetty on the main land had been ripped out by the flood, the owners weren't sure when they would open again. We received an email the night before our arrival to say they would be opening the next day, what we didn't realise was that we'd be the only guests there. We had an entire Island to ourselves for 2 days!

The next 5 days saw us relax on the beach, drink cocktails, watch the culture shows put on for the day guest, make some coconut jewellery and chill out!

What a way to finish our travels. We still can't believe how much we've seen, done and experienced which was topped off with all the great people we've met along the way.

World you have been amazing, but it turns out we've not even scratched the surface...

The last adventures!

We decided to leave a few things till the end of our New Zealand Adventure for when we got back into the North Island.

First up was the Tongarario Crossing which has been labelled as one of the best day walks in New Zealand. It was awesome! But knackering. We spent 6 and a half hours walking up to the top of a volcano which is active and an incredible sight with deep blue pools at the top. For Lord of the Ring geeks out there it's also the sight of Mordor with Mount Doom as it's neighbour.

We then headed in to Taupo, a placed filled with many adrenalin activities but there was only one on our mind... the sky dive! We decided to go for the big one, 15000 ft drop which has a full minute free fall. The waiting was the hardest thing, especially when we got in the plane - me being first which meant I was last out and had to watch everyone including Steph fall out of the plane! The feeling of being pushed out was so scary but quickly taken away when you start to look around and see the best views I've ever seen, Lake Taupo really did look incredible. Once the parachute was opened you could really take everything in.

As you can imagine we both didn't stop smiling or thinking about what we just did for a day or two, it was so much fun and definitely something we won't forget.

Our last trip was to the Waitomo caves. You wouldn't believe these existed as you drive straight passed them not knowing the deep caves were there. We joined a tour specialising in Black Water Rafting. We got our selves in a wet suit and helmet and followed our guides down a deep dark cave where we were thigh deep in the coldest water, it took our breathes away. We then jumped off a waterfall and floated down in our inner tubes taking n the views of the limestone caves which were covered in glow worms, it was like we were looking at stars!

We've both loved being in New Zealand. We couldn't believe our eyes with all the amazing views, animals and people, a real gem.

This was all topped off when we got back into Auckland and stayed with Nick and Beth again. They've recently bought a new house which is incredible, we felt very spoilt being able to hang out here with them both.

Wednesday 25th was Anzac day which is New Zealand and Australia's remembrance day. As Nick works for the New Zealand Air force we all got up early to watch the dawn ceremony which made me realise how much everyone respects and honours their past and what the soldiers who lost their lives in war did for their country. We watched every type of service man and woman in their uniform march together whilst the locals stood in applause. It really was a humbling sight. A great way to say good bye to New Zealand!

The sparse south coast

After leaving the beauty of Milford we made our way along the south coast of New Zealand, which is very harsh and windy but the landscape was in no way less beautiful, just in a more rugged way!

We went to the most southerly point in New Zealand and felt the icy winds coming off the Antarctic, and saw yellowed-eyed penguins making there way back home after a long days fishing!

Then we took a detour from the coast, back inland to visit the stunning sight of Mt Cook and the breathtaking Lakes Tekapo and Pukeki, which both sit in the site of old glaciers and therefore are the most brilliant turquoise colour!

After all this sight seeing we decided to make our way back to a city and visited Christchurch. We defiantly went expecting the devastating sight that the Earthquake 18 months ago had left. The centre of the city is still a no go area with many building still in ruins, it really is quite an eerie place. But then you turn the corner and you see what the city s doing to re-build itself. Re-Start is where they have built up a shopping centre using temporary containers.

After Christchurch we headed up to Kaikoura to see what everybody goes there for, the Whales! We had booked onto a whale watching flight! When we got there we were a little disappointed to learn that there is only ONE whale currently hanging around but apparently his movements are quite predictable! But after 30 mins of circling and staring at the sea we were starting to dispare! But then we saw all the boats rushing in one direction and we did a quick 180 to where they were heading and there we saw him! The 18m Sperm Whale! And it was worth the wait!

An abundance of views!

After the spectacular Franz Joseph Glacier we set off towards Wanaka, we both couldn't believe our eyes. Wanaka is the most beautiful town surrounded by mountains with a massive lake in the middle. I can see why so many people never leave here.

We were fortunate enough to meet up with Adam who Steph had met through Rob and Lauren. Adam and his girlfriend put us up for two nights, they were so nice to us. Wanaka was a great place to recharge the batteries and take in the many views with also an interesting stop at Puzzling World. This place is filled with illusions and puzzles with a massive maze in the middle. We got a bit competitive by trying to complete the maze as fast as we could, move out the way kids!

Queenstown was next up, another outstanding place, filled with views that really did take your breathe away. The drive from Wanaka was amazing, we stopped every 10 mins to take a picture.

We spent the day wondering around the town which reminded me of a ski resort, no wonder I liked it so much. At the harbour you can go down to a viewing room which has windows looking out under the water, there's a button you can press which shoots out food to the fish so all the fish and ducks swim around to catch the food, as you can imagine the fish are very fat!

I found out an old uni friend was singing in one of the bars so we went along to watch Gemma and John play an outstanding set. Check them out (Calico, Queenstown!) Which was followed by a night out on the town. Gemma let us park in her drive way and treated us to a nice breakie in the morning, perfeck!

We couldn't hang around for too long (although we wanted to) as we had to head to Milford Sound and join a boat trip. Another amazing drive filled with views. The boat trip itself was incredible, filled with waterfalls and view after view. We spent two hours floating around the sounds (which is actually a fiord, don't ya know) drinking as much free tea as we could.

Ice Ice Baby!

A place high on our list to see was Franz Joseph. Here is home to one of the biggest glaciers you can walk on, and it was epic!

We got up early and joined a guided tour to hike up to the glacier. We were given some gear - rain coats, hats gloves, sturdy boots and crampons (spikes you wear on your boots for the ice)We were then bundled into a bus and driven up to the starting point.

It took us an hour hike to get to the bottom of the glacier, we had a little rest and then put on our crampons and hit the ice.

The next 5 hours consisted of us hiking to as high as we could get on the ice going through caves and at one point climbing up some rope into a cave.

It was an amazing experiencing but also a tiring one, well worth it. Many amazing views and to see something like that which will probably be gone in the next 100 years was truly unforgettable.

Happy Birthday to MEEE!

So next we tootled down to Wellington as our plans to head over to the east cost were stopped by a landslide! We met up with Danny and Emily again, who we'd seen in Singapore and Mike geeked out at the Weta studios!

Then it was time for the ferry over to the south island, its not just a mode of transport, its special in itself, the views of the scenery and we cruised slowly through the Malbourough Sounds were incredible, helped by a gorgeous sunny day which was to set us up for the weather in the south island - only 1 day of rain in 3 weeks!

We landed in Picton on 26th March and as a pre-birthday surprise we pulled up at the Mussel Pot in Havelock, which is apparently the Green Lipped Mussel capital of the world! The mussels certainly were something special… and absolutely huge! Then we hot footed it to Nelson the same night where I was surprised as we pulled up to a hostel and was shown to a double room! It was a welcome sight after the camper van!

On my birthday we took bikes out and cycled around sunny Nelson, walking along the beach and having the biggest ice cream ever! Next was another surprise for me, a nice relaxing massage! Then we were off to the 'Boat Shed' restaurant, over looking the harbour for a 'Trust the Chef' tasting menu, including oysters, whitebait, smoked salmon, talbot and rack of lamb, washed down with some wine and finished off with a massive tiramasu! Amazing!

It was definitely a birthday to remember!

We then headed on over to the Abel Tasman National Park and took a boat trip to see yet another slice of New Zealand Paradise!

EXTREME (smells) in Rotorua!

As we drew closer to Rotorua, we smelt it before we realised we were there. It is a geothermal hub and therefore stinks of Sulphar (stick bombs, eggs, whatever you want to call it!)

What do you get if you mix a big blow up ball, some water, a human being and a hill? … Zorbing! We've both wanted to do this for a while and seeing we were in the place where it was invented (by two very bored men!) we decided to take the plunge. They rolled us down the 'zig zag' course and it was like being on a water ride… but better! Sooo much fun.

Rotorua is also one of the places in New Zealand with the largest Maori population, it is therefore a popular place for signing up to a culture evening to learn more about the culture and enjoy the traditions and food. So off we went to an evening of Maori Huka and Hangi (amazing meat and potatoes cooking in an underground oven for hours!)

The next day we refreshed ourselves with a soak in spa pools for natural spring water which bubbles out of the ground at a crazy 98 degrees and is cooled down so we can enjoy a leisurely soak!

We then headed off to a geothermal area and took in the sights (and smells) of it and both did a little wood carving (you can marvel over our skills when we get home!)

Then came the climax of our visit to Rotorua, white water rafting the infamous Grade 5 Kaitana River with its 7m waterfall! This was an awesome experience and also gave us some giggles when Mike somehow ended up sat in the Guides lap after the big drop! He looked confused but I'm sure he planned it, it was the pink helmet that did it!