KAYAKING & THE WEST COAST

SKYDIVING

These past two weeks I’ve been skydiving, which is something I haven’t done for over four years, though I knew I would do it again I just didn’t know when. The drop zone is a a little place called Pudding Hill on the very edge of the alps, near the local ski area called Mt. Hutt. The plane ride up to 12,000 ft. is amazing, as long as the fear of jumping out isn’t gripping you too tightly. I’ve done three jumps with instructors, just to make sure I hadn’t completely forgotten which handle to pull. Since then I’ve been out on my own, enjoying the feeling and getting used to falling at 200kph again.

I learnt to skydive 5 years ago, here in New Zealand up at lake Taupo in the north island. My girlfriend at the time and my good friend Steve Ward also learnt and it was a huge amount of fun, particularly after we qualified Steve and I would jump out of the plane together clinging on to each other and laughing hysterically. Being in this country and jumping out of planes again, reminded me how much I enjoy sharing these experiences with good friends.

The long walk back after my first jump (they don’t let you land too close to the hanger incase you try landing on it instead!)


The jump plane. This is an NZ made Fletcher with a 700bhp turbine engine that takes eight passengers to 12,000ft. in about 12 minutes, and comes back down at about the same speed we do!


Atilla, one of our instructors, showing us how it’s done!

Moeraki Boulders & Dandelion Fountains

These boulders lie on the East coast of the south island and are truly bizarre. They formed in a similar way to pearls, lots of thin layers, and they're almost perfectly spherical.






Christchurch is a beautiful city to walk through at night, there are lots of parks and green spaces lit up in fun colours, like these dandelion fountains near the city centre.

Queenstown and the southern alps

This is the amazing view of Mt. Cook from the road on the way down to Queenstown.


Another prime example of the Roman road!


This is the leaning tower of Wanaka at the amazing world of puzzles.


A classic photo opportunity I just couldn't miss.


Queenstown from the top of the gondola.


The famous Queenstown luge, not as dangerous as it looks, ut definately faster than you expect!

Oh little town of Methven.....

We moved to the little town of Methven two weeks ago, the day befor my course started on the Monday. We’re staying at the Redwood Lodge, which in winter is a six bedroom ski lodge, but we’ve rented the whole place for the summer and we’re sharing it with two guys from the course who moved in a week ago. The place used to be a vicarage, so it’s one of the oldes buildings in town and it has a really nice peacefull airy feel to the place.


Road builders round here stuck strictly to the Roman road building ethos.....straight!


These are the local hills just out of town, on the edge of the alps. We took a trip up the Rakaia valley at the end of the day and caught the sun shining through from behind the clouds.


Our camp fire at the edge of lake Colleridge, further up the same valley, where we stayed that night.