Skydiving over Fox Glacier and Mount Cook

Flying Above Mt Cook, originally uploaded by jokecamp.

I wasn't planning on going Skydiving but after meeting the owner at Lake Kaniere and getting a good deal I couldn't resist. The Fox Glacier is set to be among one of the most scenic skydives in the world.

We jumped out at about 12,000 feet right next to Mount Cook the highest mountain in New Zealand at 12,316 feet. There was a free fall of about 45 seconds. Then about 10 seconds through solid cloud where visibility was zero. We could only hope a chopper didn't come flying through then the parachute gets pulled at about 5,000 feet and we float down to a view of the Fox Glacier and town.

It was my third skydive and I didn't get scared much. The adrenaline rush was ever present and the scenery was the best yet.

Now its back to Queenstown for some New Years celebration.

On the road again

Christmas on the Lake, originally uploaded by jokecamp.

I am back on the road again after a stay with a family in Greymouth. I got put to work mostly in the gardens while learning about the local gold mining process and history. While staying with the family I slept in the old boat that was rooted into their backyard. It was quite comfy and warm. I doubt I would sleep as sound if it was on the open water.

For Christmas we joined the family for a few days on Lake Kaniere. Two of the days were gorgeous but one day it just poured down raining. I've now got the hang of water skiing and can get up ontop the water on my first try.

The break from the road was great and the family was a lot of fun. I haven't ate that well since the trip began. I'm headed back south again but this time I am traveling with Sascha from Germany. We are taking his van south and trying to make it to Queenstown for New Years Eve.

It's good to be on the road again.

Hopping off the big green Kiwi Bus

Kiwi Experience Bus, originally uploaded by jokecamp.

I've finished the Kiwi Experience bus tour of New Zealand. The bus was lots of fun and everytime I stepped on I got the chance to meet about forty new young travellers. I made a lot of good friends but I am happy to be getting off the bus for now. Four or so weeks on the bus has taken its toll on me.

Tomorrow I will be leaving ChristChurch and heading to a farm house outside Westport, New Zealand. I will be staying with a family for a few weeks and helping them out around the place. It will be nice to relax and stay in one place for a bit and give me a chance to figure out the next part of my trip.

The Nevis Bungy in Queenstown

The Nevis Bungy, originally uploaded by jokecamp.

I've just jumped off the Nevis Bungy that hangs 134 meters above the Nevis river. An adrenaline rush that can't be rivaled. You see the ground, the river and canyon walls just rush by at an incredible rate.

The hardest part was jumping off the platform. You can see everything in front of you and the operator quickly counts down five...four...three...two...one...bungy! At first I didn't jump. It took two more seconds and a deep breath before a swan dive off the platform.

That's me in the picture above. Cheers!

Ice Climbing on Fraz Josef Glacier

Ice Climbing, originally uploaded by jokecamp.

We stayed in Franz Josef for four days. Luckily the rain stayed away just long enough for us to get onto the glacier and do an ice climb. The day started with an hour walk through a lush rain forest. After the trek we entered onto the 16 km long glacier. We put out crampons, helmets and gortex gear then headed straight up the ice to our climbing spot. The climbing was a lot different from rock climbing. The key was to keep your heels down and dig the toes into the wall of ice and take small steps as you work your way up using the pick axes for more balance and grips. It took me several climbs and some soar arms before I started learning how to use my legs more to my advantage. I did well and made it up all the courses but there were a couple moments where I probably would of fell if not for the safety line.

We were lucky on our timing for the trip because the next day the rain poured down and the glacier river flooded all the way up to the town.

From Franz Josef we headed south to Wanaka. It is a small town settled on Lake Wanaka, a glacier lake. The color of the lake is an impressive blue and the water was freezing cold. I didn't last long swimming there.

Next stop is Queenstown. The adventure capital of the world.

Kayaking the Abel Tasman National Park and the West Coast

Kayaking the Abel Tasman National Park, originally uploaded by jokecamp.

We took a full day Kayaking trip up into the Abel Tasman National Park on the Northeast corner of the South Island. The beaches were some of the most amazing and unspoiled beaches I've ever seen. We travelled South down the coast visiting small islands and lagoons. Saw several seals lounging on the rocks but kept our distance. In the end we had travelled around 16 Kilometers and my arms could feel it.

After leaving Nelson we stayed one night in Westport. There isn't much to do in Westport with a population of five thousand. It was a Sunday night and a ghost town. The highlight was playing soccer on a rugby field with a friend against two locals Kiwis. One of the Kiwis was playing in jeans, his socks. a long sleeve dress shirt with a white t-shirt over that. Not your conventional soccer uniform. We probably wouldn't of done so well if they had asked us to a game of rugby.

After a day in Westport we stayed a night at the Mahinipua Hotel and Pub. It was in the middle of nowhere wedged between the west coast and the Southern Alps. There we had a steak dinner cooked by the famous Les and a themed party in the pub that couldn't be beat.