Beth's Adventures

Ok...this is proving rather difficult for me, so bear with me, im just going to skip the rest of Nz - just believe me that is was GREAT. But i'll get so behind if i keep trying to catch up, so here goes...

I arrived in Melbourne on Dec 1st, Jame Wallace met me from the airport and took me back to his parents house where i stayed for my 1st week. Rod and Marg Wallace have two kids Jame and Emma, so it was lovely to hang out with them while i recovered from a bit of intense backpackering and indulged in some home cooking and clean showers

On Mon 8th Dec i left Melbourne on the Greyhound bus and spent the week travelling up the coast...destination Brisbane.

Monday night i was in Canberra, the city capital - although its common knowledge that they only made it the capital to stop melbourne and sydney fighting.

Tuesday night, Sydney - which was great, i spent the day at Bondi beach which had such a great buzz, lots of happy sunny people.

Weds night was spent in a small town called Port Maquarie where i took a sunset boat trip into the bay, to see dolphins, but it was raining...and no dolphins, so yeah...but pleasant. They have a cool tradition on the boulders along the back of the beach to paint them with your names/to mark your memories and there is hundereds of them to look at which i thought was great.

Thurday till monday i spent at Byron Bay which i loved - a small surfer town with a great chilled out atmosphere and lovely beaches. I had two surf lessons which was much fun...yes i stood up and everything!

Yesterday i spent the day at a big touristy town called Surfers Paradise which was a bit urban for me, but nice beach.

I arrived in Brisbane at 7pm and was met by Angie Swinbourne and her boyfriend Simon and went to watch them play with some others from the ecclesia in their football (australian) team leage game. Its basically like touch rugby for us.

Im staying at Angies house in Brisbane, today i did lots of washing and sorted out my stuff - its VERY humid in Queensland.

So you're up to date...will try and keep on top of this!

On Monday, i hopped back on the bus and the Magic began...

First stop black water rafting at Waitamo glow worm caves...

We travelled 1km of underground rivers looking up at the glow worms twinkling on the vast cave ceilings, and jumped backwards down the odd underground waterfall...muchos fun!

That evening we went to a Mauri experience evening to learn about the culture, dance, music and eat a 'hangi' which is a traditional geothermally cooked mauri feast!

In Taupo, i did a skydive!! yes i know i still sounds funny to me! But is was amazing! We jumped out at 12000ft and were in free fall for about 40sec until 5000ft then opened the parachute and slowly descended over the beautiful lake Taupo with snow capped volcanoes in the distance!

From Taupo to the Capital Wellington where i got the Interislander ferry and left the North Island for the south...

Kia ora! I've finally got round to starting my blog!

A few things before i begin. I travelled around Nz both North and South Islands using a company called 'Magic Bus'. Its a hop-on hop-off service that follows a certain route so you stay in each place as long a you feel like. I spent the 1st week with the Ewington and Connelly families in the north island and then did the rest of my tour round NZ in 2 weeks - fast, but fun...just to explain why i had NO time to blog!

My first week i spent adjusting to the jet lag, chilling out and meeting new people. I stayed with Lou and Kath Ewington and Brian and Bev Connolley.

Dinner at the Ewingtons (L) Nathen Joseph, Clare, Lily, Lou, Cath, Biff

Biff and I at Bridal Veil Falls

At the Connelly's (L) Nicholas, Roger Briggs, Rachel, Matthew, Anna, Sarah