Queenstown Canyoning!

Canyoning was my favorite thing on the trip. It was challenging, the scenery was awesome, our guides were great, and we got to do some really fun stuff. I know Tara loved it too but I think scuba diving might have come out ahead on the favorite things list.

We had just done our first zip line before these pics and now we are rapelling into the canyon below.On this jump were suppose to assume the butt drop position. I didn't really get my feet out, so I just look like a dork.


We had to scramble over rocks and through rapids to move from spot to spot.


We had to hang out over the water and go down this rock face.
When we got to the bottom the other guide pused us out over the pool and we dropped in.

This is my landing from a different drop.

Tara's best impersonation of superman.

Swimming out. You can tell by the expressions on our faces that we didn't enjoy it at all.

Group shot at the bottom of the canyon.

Now for the really cool stuff. The next two videos are of Tara and I sliding over a waterfall.

Stay tuned for more videos.

Hiking in Queenstown

It was hard to choose what pics to put up for this blog because there were so many good ones to choose from. We set out on a cool and rainy morning to go for a hike up one of Queenstowns many trails. The incline was tough and we could all feel the elevation effecting our breathing. After about 1.5 hours of hiking and not much of a view we were getting a little discouraged until we finally came to a clearing and this view.

We thought that was good until we went a bit farther and saw this.

The hike down was a lot easier and we found this great waterfall.

Mitai Maori Experience

For dinner in Rotorua we went to a Maori Experience. The Maori people were the first to come to New Zealand and live. The Mitai family now runs a business to present the traditional Maori way of life as authentically as possible. Under the blankets is our dinner.



Chicken, lamb, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and stuffing it was so good.

These guys paddled by in a traditional boat.

The Chief

A demonstration of a Haka (war dance). It was scary. Check out the video.

Kerosene Creek

After the thermals we set out to find a natural hot spring we had been told about. This is what we found.


The water temperature was 37 degrees. It was just like a hot tub.

It was such an amazing place. We were so glad to have gone there rather than to a commercialized place.

WAI-O-TAPU

We're back! We had a great trip and now will try our best to get the blog updated to show you all the awesome places we have been. After caving it was off to Rotorua and Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland. Streams beneath the earth are heated up by liquid hot magma which has been left over from volcanic activity. This heated water comes up through the earth all over the park. The smell is all part of the experience, a nice strong sulphur breeze.

The green water in this crater was so vibrant. The picture just does not do it justice.

The steam behind us is where some of the heated water comes to the surface. In spots around the park the water was bubbling and boiling.

The mud pool was my favourite part. Bubbling, exploding mud pools was so cool. Check out the video.

Update!

Hey everyone! We are indeed having some exciting adventures on this trip. Unfortunately, we aren't able to post things yet. As soon as we are able to access a computer where we are not paying per minute for time we will amaze you all with pictures of our awesome experiences... in the meantime- imagine us having a splendid time and stew in jealousy. We are off to Cairns in the morning. Have a happy Australia Day everyone!

Waitomo Black Water Adventure

Well the trip is officially under way. After waking up in Auckland, we drove towards Waitomo. On the way, we called 'Rap, Raft n Rock' cave rafting company to book ourselves for a tour. We rapalled into the cave 27 m. The view on the ride down was amazing.

We floated in tubes down the river in the dark. The walls and ceiling were glowing with glow worms. They looked like the stars.

Then it was time to crawl through some holes and REALLY tight spaces.

Tara and Barry went through a really tiny space that required them to go sideways the entire way. Our guide said he had only had one other person make it through before.

Barry started to lose his wetsut on the way through.

After about 3.5 hours in the cave it was time to climb out. Nancy went first and the white dots at the bottom are our rubber boots.

This is where we got in and out. Truly incredible.