The Kiwi Experience - South Island

Where to start? I'm panned out in a lovely ski lodge hostel in Queenstown in front of the fire with a cuppa in my hand. It seems like an age ago when we departed Wellington and boarded a ferry for the south island of New Zealand. We've had a ball as you can see from the pictures. It took 2 hours to get these pics together as there were so many. They still don't tell half the story of the fun we have had in our short time here. We've been scared sh*tless, thrilled beyond belief, partied out, and then all of the latter over again.

We hit Nelson to see the centre of New Zealand (Surely a farce! It just happens to be on top of the most scenic hill in the area) and also for a day trip around Abel Tasman. The Kiwi bus then continued to bring us to numerous gorgeous sites, waterfalls, mountain views & lakes. This country truly is astounding. The terrain, landscapes & views are quite literally out of this world. The pictures are out of sequence but we had the "Poo" party next. The Poo party, so called because it takes place at Mahinapua Hotel, is an experience unique to the Kiwi bus. Les, the owner of the hotel, allows the bus to stop and party for an evening in his hostel and pub. Fancy dress is a requirement & each bus must pick a theme. Les then takes a polaroid and puts it on the wall. The walls are now full with pics so they are now stored in an album. The place is crazy! You can see from the photos we chose a pensioner's party for our theme. I was voted 2nd best dressed for my interpretation of Jonny the grumpy old man (some pointed out I had been method acting in the role all my life). Mrs. Doyle won for her sensational portrayal of the Father Ted character and dancing to "Like a Virgin", before harrassing the police for a "cuppa".

After the Poo party we headed for Franz Josef to climb the little glacier there... It wasn't so small once you had to jump crevasses and scale glacier walls. The photos are amazing of our day spent on ice. We had a huge party that night, spawning the now famous Jega-thon. Franz Josef is a cool spot. Still pumped the next day we partied through to Wanaka, dancing in the aisle of the bus, posing for photos on the beach & a spot of karaoke down the back of the bus. Wanaka is a gorgeous little ski town that we wish we had boarded in. With one night there we headed to Queenstown after a stop at the puzzle museum.

Queenstown is the activity capital of the world. Bungys, swings, luging, skiing, snowboarding, rafting, jet boating & quad biking. If you have the capital you can quite literally do it all here. After Joe's bungy, we hit the canyon swing. We booked 3 days boarding in Remarkables & Coronet Peak. I loved it so much I did a fourth day and managed to do 2 nights of night skiing and get onto some of the blue as well as black slopes. Skiing in New Zealand doesn't compare to Europe or Alaska but it was really good fun with some significant snow falls in our time here.

Queenstown meant saying goodbye to most people from the bus as they went their separate ways on further travels or on the way home. This meant lots of partying and goodbyes. We have one more Kiwi bus to Christchurch to catch this Saturday. On the 4th August we head back to Sydney for one night before flying onto Kuala Lumpur. Thanks to all on the bus who made our time in New Zealand so special. Paddy, Nal & Iano watch out, Joe & Jonny are on the way back to South East Asia... And we're ready to surf & party till the sun comes up!

Sweet as New Zealand... I'll be back

Centre of New Zealand, in Nelson

Ralph vandalises the centre of NZ

Looking for some lunch after forgetting the sambos

Joe takes the plunge into the 8 degree lake

Joe & I at the foot of Franz Josef glacier

Our guide gets a little stressed with the route

Icecream anyone?

Danni, Me, Amy, Joe & Emma

Having a coke while planning the Jega-thon

28 Jega bombs = THE JEGA-THON!

The Poo party begins!

Ralph was a little too convincing as a woman!

Les & James... One is actually 84, the other isn't

I was a little too convincing as a grumpy old man

All the lovely ladies

Father Joe & Jonny

Adele & I

Mrs. Doyle offers the police some tea... Go on, go on

Sexy face on the bus

Ralph & Jonny

Disco the dog is neutered appartently

You know I always knew I was taller than Joe

All laugh at the tall guy...

Joe does the bungy!

Jonny & Ralph on the Big Easy in Coronet Peak

The 51 Jega-thon in Queenstown

Tom, Marc & Jonny at Coronet Peak

Some off piste anyone?

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