Update on our progress

I am looking back on my list of links and seeing what we have and have not done.
We through in the Akaroa Dolphins on day 1. Weather prevented us from seeing Mount Cook but we went by. We didn't go to the Haka on the top of the Gondola because there was a free one at the Kiwi Bird Park. We didn't do the Central Otago Wine Experience, instead we ate too much and went shopping.
It was too early for a pint when we were in Arrowtown but we did pan for gold. Also, Chris took a Bungy jump on that day. And alas, the bra fence has been removed. According to lonely planet the town had asked the farmer to take it down in 2006 but he had refused. I guess they won.
Also instead of staying the hotel tomorrow we are staying with Anna (see the only photo I got to load back on our arrival day). Chris is going to call her in a few minutes and take her up on her offer. That will save us enough money to go out to a nice dinner and take her with us!

I think I have proved my own worth as a travel agent and that if you spend over a month preparing for a trip it just may be worth it.

Day 14: This is the reason no one lives here

Rain! Rain! Rain!
Our next big driving day started out nice. We had an awesome breakfast in Queenstown and then headed north. We stopped at Puzzling World for some fun and games. Then as we moved up through the rain forest and Haast Pass - Rain! We actually ate our picnic lunch in the car pulled over on the side of the road. It rained in the mountains and rained on the coast. We saw the most amazing waterfalls but couldn't take pictures through the wet car windows and didn't want to get Richard's camera out in the rain.
We stopped at Fox Glacier despite the rain and took a few quick shots. We then hauled it on over to Franz Josef Glacier to check in to the Glow Worm Cottage. It is another shared toilet (Kiwi for the entire bathroom) backpackers hostel but is very clean. There is a great kitchen and lounge where I am blogging from and a hot tub, although I think no amount of convincing will get Chris into the hot tub.
We are both cold and wet and the continued rain prevents us from getting our luggage out of the car. Chris is grabbing a power nap and I am in here blogging. In 30 minutes the kitchen serves free vegetable soup.

Day 13: Milford Sound

This post will have to be pictures only. We saw mountains, pastures, Alpine rain forest, temperate rain forest, a fjord and the Tasman Sea.

Day 12: This is the place that invented thrills!

So we get up to go to Shotover Jets (see links in post: South Island Adventure), I had to convince myself that this would be a good idea. It is the only thrill in Queenstown that doesn't involve jumping from something.
So the first time that our boat came mere inches from the cliff face, I decided I was probably going to close my eyes and cry through the whole trip but I didn't at all. It was so much fun! I took some 15 second video clips on my camera and I will get those up so you can see how crazy it is for a boat to spin 360 degrees in one spot. Videos at the end of this post.
Chris and I then went to Arrowtown which is an old gold mining community. Chris panned for gold while I ate the best meat pie ever! If you ever visit Queenstown then you need to drive over to Arrowtown and go to the Postmaster's Deli for a Steak Pie!
As I said in the title of this post, thrills where invented in Queenstwon. The first shotover jets were made of wood, downhill skiing has been going on since the great depression and in 1987 the year of the market crash - AJ Hacket opened the first commercial bungee jump site. Well, with his impending 30th birthday Chris Vogel has added his name to the list of those who have jumped off the Kawarau Bridge.

That's Chris in the next picture!

If your fiance jumped off a bridge, would you do it too? I thought about it but we all know I just would have paid the money to stand up there and cry and run away.
We had a nice dinner after. The most popular pizza here is chicken, cranberry and brie. I had some and it is really good.