how long is a piece or string (well elastic actually)?

i guess it depends on how heavy you are really, but from the bridge, just long enough when fully stretched for me to dip my hands in the water, before bouncing back up so far i thought i was going to hit the bridge again.

it was the most incredible thing to do, exhilarating beyond belief, so much so that i went and did another one in the afternoon, that was quite a different experience and much more enjoyable, with a harness round my waist rather than my feet, could take a running jump and somersault out of the launch site before plunging towards the trees and rocks below, wow.

there is another much higher option from a cable car down into a ravine with an 8 second freefall that feels rather tempting at this moment in time, will sleep on it and see how i feel in the morning......

millenium tile walk wanaka

and the Snowy bits

Wanaka to Milford Sound

in a very small plane.

The thought of a 14 hour round trip by coach to see milford sound did not sound all that appealing once the option of travelling in a very small aeroplane was discovered!!!

I sat next to the pilot in a 4 seater cessna with Jenny and Stuart Miller in the rear two seats just to confuse the tour operator, who was sure there had been a mistake with our surnames.

Flew over Wanaka and Shania Twains controversial new pad in the hills, the Dart valley, Mount Aspiring, the Avalanche Glacier and many more huge mountains, glacial features and hardly any other tiny buildings or signs of life on our 45 minute flight to Milford Sound.

What can i say..............................just look at the pictures, i am still blown away by the vastness and beauty of it all

Inland to Wanaka

Have come travelled inland, through fields of cows and sheep, along the coast and then inland, rising up through hills following a wide valley with large swirling river, passed huge hydro electric dams and huge mountains. The fields now have llamas and deer and the views into the distance are of snowcapped mountains over vineyards and miles and miles of fruit trees. The cherries are ready and the apricots plums and nectarines will start to follow soon. The sun is shining and it feels like a new adventure over again.

Have taken up the offer of accomodation with Nikki, a friend of my previous hosts, who has a home on in the lakeside town of Wanaka., An excellent base for a huge variety of outdoor persuits and close to the ski fields for the winter. It looks awesome and i've hardly started to explore yet.

have to see if i can get my camera fixed - the screen is cracked and no longer shows the pictures i am taking, buy sunscreen and a pair of shades at last......

Moeraki Boulders

Dunedin wildlife

Otago peninsula Dunedin
Killer Whale or Orca
Royal albatross