Pahia, Bay of Islands NZ

Well our last final days in beautiful New Zealand are upon us. We are currently in Pahia in the Bay of Islands. It is really beautiful! The bay of islands consists of 144 islands so there is lots to see. We just finished a day trip that took us on a tour through the islands and the famous hole in the rock. The weather turned out to be ok, we were lucky and did not get really rained on. We are staying at captain bobs beachhouse here in Pahia tonight and then we are back on the bus tomorrow for our last bus ride back to Auckland. We fly out thursday back to Sydney and are going to spend a couple days in Bondi beach and then saturday we fly to Ayers Rock. We cant believe how fast our time in NZ has gone but we have seen alot of stuff and done lots of cool stuff as well. Goodbye New Zealand!!!! Hope all is well with everyone and you all had a wonderful easter and we will chat once we are back in Australia!!! Talk to you soon,
Love Jen and Glenn

Glenns 24th Birthday, Roturua-Waitomo, NZ

Well, Glenn is officially 24! We are in Waitomo and yesterday we went Black Water rafting for his birthday and we both had a blast! We didn't quite know what to expect, we geared up in wetsuits, booties, helmet with light and rubber boots. We then drove out to a cave and went under ground. You carry a black inner tube with you and you weave through the caves over the rocks under very low cliffs and jump backwards, yes backwards off water falls in the pitch black. The only light is the light on your helmet and the glow worms above. We were 65m under ground and it was so cool. We even saw eels! ewwwww!
In Roturua we went to Thermal wonderland, which is hot spots and pools, geisers and mud pools. Lets just say Roturua will never win any contests for best smelling town. It stank!!! Its hard to believe that we actually paid $50 dollars a person to look at stink tanks!! It was well worth it though we had fun. At night we went to a place called the Polynisian spa. It is a natural hot spring area with beautiful lookouts over the lake from 27 different pools that range from 35 to 42 degrees!! I can honestly say it was quite relaxing.
Today we are leaving Waitomo to Auckland and then after Auckland we are headed up to the Bay of Islands for a Sailing trip before we fly out of Auckland on the 27th. We can definitly say we have seen and done lots of new things on this trip. I cant believe the month is almost over. We are well and hope everyone has a wonderful Easter. Love you all,
Love Jen and Glenn

Wellington-Taupo, NZ

PICTURE: Mt Doom Volcano (From Lord of the rings) in Taupo
PICTURE: Spa thermal park, in Taupo
Well we left Wellington and made our way up the North island to a place called Taupo. Taupo is the begginning of the volcanic ranges in NZ. We settled in to our hostel which is super nice and clean. We even got our own bathroom for only $62 a night. We contemplated doing a hike called the Tongariro crossing which is 18km up and down Mt Tongariro. Because the volcanic range is quite high they have severe weather changes in an instant so they want you to be prepared for anything. We decided that we did not have the right equiptment and will maybe do it next time we make our way to NZ. Instead we had a quieter morning and then took a hike to the natural thermal pools. Taupo is really pretty, it surrounds Lake Taupo and the sun has been shining since we arrived. Today we are off to Rotorua to the geisers and thermal pools. Shall be fun! All is well hope things are good back home. Talk to you all soon, HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY!!
Love Jen and Glenn XOXO

Nelson/Abel Tasman National Park

PICTURE: Glenn in his skirt ready to go!
PICTURE: Abel Tasman National park
Well we are the real deal outdoors men now! We took the bus from Franz Josef to Nelson, it was a very long bus ride but we got to stop at the Punikaki pancake rocks on the way, very cool! When we arrived in Nelson we spent the first day organizing our lives for the next week and booking accomodation etc. At night we went to a local brewery and trialled 10 beers for 10 dollars, good deal! The next day we were up at 5:45am and we went on a day trip to the Abel Tasman National park. Our day consisted of a 3 hr Kayak along the coast line and a 3 hr hike up over the park to the other side where we caught a water taxi back. The park was so beautiful and we met a really nice couple from Scotland that we spent the day with. We even took a dipp in the icy water of Cleopatras pool which had a natural water slide cut out of the rocks.
Yesterday we took a bus to Picton from Nelson and then the Interislander ferry to Wellington. On our way we saw a pod of atleast 100 dolphins (no exageration!) jumping through the waves, sooo... cool. Glenns camera battery decided to break so we didn't get it on video but we bought a new battery today so that does not happen again! Last night we were able to meet up with Brenda a client from back home and we went out for malaysian food, suprisingly good and glenn even enjoyed it too! We are in Wellington till tomorrow and then we head to Taupo to do another hike in Tongariro National park to see Volcanos! Should be fun, we are having a blast and will let you know whats happenning next very soon!!!
Love Jen and Glenn XOXO

Franz Josef Glacier, NZ

PICTURE: Glenn and Jen the mountaineers!
Well we did it! We hiked up, down, around, under, over any way you can think of we hiked for 8hrs up Franz Josef glacier! We did the full day tour that left the office at 9:15am and we then proceeded to the parking lot of the glacier. We then walked along the river up ladders through streams tot he base of the glacier. At the base of the ice, we put on our crampon spikes to the bottom of our hiking boots and proceeded up ice stairs that our guide chiped into the ice as we went. Lets just say it was the most amazing, fufilling accomplishment and our bodys are sure feeling it! They always say the best places in the world are the hardest to get to, but well worth every moment. In total, we hiked over rugged terrain for 8hrs with only a couple minute stops here and there. Any ways it was a blast and we got some really good pics.
We are in Nelson now, and are headed out on a Kayaking/hiking trip tomorrow in the Abel Tasman National Park which we are both really looking forward too. All in all we are busy busy busy and will keep you updated as we go, Miss you tons
Love Jen and Glenn

Te Anua and Millford Sound, NZ

PICTURE: Mirror lakes, fiordland national park
Well we have spent many hours on buses but have seen some of the most beautiful scenery i have ever seen! We left Queenstown and went to a town called Te Anau. It is a very small town but is situated right on a lake with many tramping trails around. Glenn and i did a lake trek and ended up at a bird sanctuary where we saw some native new zealand birds. The weather was quite cool and windy when we got there but cleared up and was actually quite pleasant. The next day we went to Millford sound which is a outlet into the tasman sea. The mountains have been formed all around right out of the ocean and they have enough minerals that trees grow right out of them with no soil. We really lucked out there though, we ended up with a beautiful sunny day and the skipper told us that the sound averages 3 out of 4 rainy days, so we were really lucky, and we also saw dolphins and seals! We are now in Franz Josef and we are off on a Glacier hike tomorrow morning. Should be lots of fun, we have both never done anything like that before! All is well, we are go go go and enjoying every moment. Miss you all talk to you soon,
Love Jen and Glenn

Christchurch-Queenstown NZ

PICTURE: Glenn in Christchurch
Well we arrived safe and sound in New Zealand. It was a little bit of a shock to our system with the temperature only about 15 degrees we had to break out our sweaters which hasn't been done in a long time! We spent a couple of days in Christchurch at a hostel called base backpackers. The room was nice and big and they supplied towels which is always a bonus. In Christchurch we went to the canterbury museum, botanical gardens and wandered through the beautiful cathedral in cathedral square. We bought a bus pass to travel both the south and north islands and planned some of our tour. Saturday we hopped on a bus and travelled to Queenstown. On our way we stopped at lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Omaramar and then to Queenstown. Mt cook is the tallest mountain in the southern alps of New Zealand. We arrived in Queenstown and our staying at a hostel called bungi backpackers. Its small and friendly and the people that run it are super nice. Queenstown is really beautiful it reminds us alot of banff except it has a lake right in the middle. We are leaving tomorrow to a place called Te anua and then to Millford sound. In Millford we are doing a lake cruise which should be really nice. We then come back to Queenstown before we head up the coast to Franz Josef glacier where we will be doing a hike on the glacier. All in all things are good, there is so much to do and see here that everyone of our days will be filled with something new. We will keep you updated as our New Zealand travels continue, hope all is well.
Love Jen and Glenn