Gollum

Hello! This has really been a week to remember! Last week we travelled down to Wellington, the Capital City of New Zealand. We stayed with Brad and Simon (thank you both) in their luxury appartment overlooking the harbour - very nice indeed, we thought we were the bees knees! During our short stay in the capital, we managed to do - well, a hell of a lot really! A visit to Te Papa (Our Place), which is the National Musuem of New Zealand included an exhibition for the Lord of the Rings - really interesting, as they had all the costumes and weapons there along with multimedia displays explaining how the film was made. Around the corner was the Embassy Cinema, where the film was premiered, and towering above the entrance is a giant model of Gollum, reaching for the ring! We also enjoyed a cable car ride to see the views of Wellington. That night we had a BIG meal with Fiona and Derlys (from Wales!), Rachel and Colin, Patty and Warwick (old friends of Toni's). The next day we met Jim and Jo for lunch before departing for the South Island.







The hidden valley

The Journey across the Cook straight was fast, and the views approaching the South Island were amazing. Fiona and Derlys joined us on this trip and for a few days afterwards as we explored the beautiful, rugged coast. The best part of my journey so far had to be the Sea Kayaking in the Abel Tasman, one of the most beautiful places in the World. Fiona and Derlys got closer to nature than they intended when they got hit side on by a big wave, but their good old 'ah well, sod it let's get on with it' attitude saw them through - good on them! Toni managed to demonstrate her excellent nursing skills as one of our 'team' almost got scalped playing 'pass the paddle' - you couldn't make these stories up - Nana and Grandad, you'd be proud!

Zorbing

The next journey took us along the wonderful rugged coast, and to the Punakaiki (pancake) rocks and blow holes. These are massive layered rock formations standing proud of the beach. Along this stretch of coast they also have penguins, although we didn't see any, but the road signs were a bizarre sight! Onwards then, to Hokitika, home to the world's most beautiful sunsets, and more importantly, Toni's Grandad, Bill. We've been staying with him for a few days - thanks Bill, and enjoyed his wonderful company, home made ale and his new toy, the hp pavilion mx70 computer, which he will no doubt be swearing at right this minute!

I also got to meet Matt, who has been working for Bill for the past eight years for the payment of three Minties (Kiwi sweets) a week.

Anna, Rob & Owen zorbing

Luckily we also got to meet Barry and Chris, Toni's great uncle and aunt. Barry showed me his oil paintings, which are out of this world - Ellen, you would have loved to meet him, and shared artistic experiences! His paintings are mainly made up of the views of the surrounding area, which is truly breathtaking. Within an hour from here, we have seen gorges with rushing blue water, mountain ranges with snow on the peaks, beaches, gold mines, glow worm dells - the list goes on. When we stopped off in one of the alpine ranges, Arthur's Pass, we were greeted by wild Kea, big green parrots that are naturally inquisitive, especially when it comes to tyres and windscreen wipers! They are seen as loveable rogues, and great fun to watch.

Tomorrow we continue South to the Glaciers and Mount Cook, and then on to see the wild Whales and dolphins at Kaikoura. Watch this space!

The Photos are from Rotorua, where we went to the geothermal resort, and also had a go at zorbing with Anna and Rob.

Bye for now, Owen and Toni.

Sean in Aukland

Hello there!

Well, We've been really busy in the last week, and had some amazing experiences. On Thursday, we caught up with Sean in Aukland, and he took us out sailing to see boats racing racing for the America's cup from about a 100 metres away, which was brilliant - thanks Sean! We also caught up with Fiona from Cardiff, and Nicola and Andrew, who kindly let us stay at their house in Aukland.

The Next day we went to the Big Day Out, which was a massive music festival with lots of big bands playing. We almost didn't make it after a hilarious bus journey with a driver who didn't know where he was going, one of those moments when you had to be there I suppose! We saw The Music, Foo fighters, P.J Harvey, Underworld and Chicks on Speed to name but a few, and had a fantastic deay, even managed to dance to some of my beloved drum and bass!

We went to Angela and Rob's wedding yestersy.. the first and last time I had seen Rob was in London, sliding down the escalators on the London Underground.. as you can imagine the wedding was a lot of fun!

Have to go now, I'll try and give you all an update soon.

Owen and Toni

Zorbing

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a great time over Christmas, and have recovered from the excess eating and drinking that goes with it! I had a wonderful time in Gisborne with Toni and her family. The sun was shining on Christmas day, and we had a bar-b-q rather than ye olde Christmas Turkey! We were swimming in the sea come boxing day, and New Year was spent on the beach and in an Irish theme pub! Loads of Tonis' friends came to stay with us over New Year, and it was great to catch up with them, I met most of them in the U.K. last year.

We are living in a city called Gisborne, which is the first place in the world to see the sun, and with that comes the bonus of being among the first people in the world to see in the New Year - awesome!

After the New year celebrations, we joined Anna (Kiwi) and Rob (Pom), in a trip along the East Coast up to a very smelly Rotorua (sulphur from the themals smells just like rotten eggs!) While there we visited Whakarewarewa (that's the short version!) thermal village. This was a really interesting place, a living village surrounded by geyzers and mud pools! We watched a cultural performance, and I managed to get on stage and try the Haka, the traditional Maori War challenge!! Anyone who knows me will know that I couldn't keep a straight face,and I can't imagine what I looked like sticking my tongue out to look 'angry'!! Rob managed to secretly record it in video, so watch this space - Jake, are you suitably impressed?!!

We then went along to the Buried village of Te Wairoa where, in June 1886, the eighth wonder of the world - the Pink and White Terraces - were destroyed by the eruption of Mount Tarawera. It is now the site of an open air museum, and the home of Te Wairoa falls.

Zorbing

The next day we decided to go Zorbing - yes, Zorbing! I'd not heard of this before, and I'm sure I wasn't alone. For the ignorant, imagine being soaked by a bucket of cold water and pushed down a hill in something that closely resembles a plastic hamster ball. Great fun!!

We left Rob and Anna in Rotorua and went on to find refuge around lake Taupo. According to our new bible, the Rough Guide to New Zealand, this lake was created when a massive volcano erupted. 'Ash was ejected so high into the atmosphere that it was carried around the world, enabling historians to pinpoint the date of the eruption as 186 AD - when the Chinese noted a blackening of the sky and Romans recorded that the heavens turned blood-red'.

We saw the new James Bond film, which we both really enjoyed, after having a picnic by the lake and exploring the countryside, then crept back 007-like into the campsite after realising there was a curfew - living life on the edge!

Back resting in Gissy - we're off to 'Booze, Blues and Bar-b-q's' in Tauranga later on in the week, which sounds like a great day out!

All the best,

Owen and Toni

Off to Auckland

Well it's all go at the moment, the next month is going to action-packed!

We're off to Auckland at the end of the week to go to the Big Day out, a music festival with loads of big bands like Foo Fighters, Underworld, Queens of the Stone Age etc. playing. Then off to Tauranga for yet another Wedding! After that We're off to the South Island, home of Middle Earth for a few weeks, which I am really looking forward to. I also get to meet Toni's Grandad, Bill - can't wait to meet him! I'll have to find some internet cafe's to keep you informed of my whereabouts! It's all good!