Soooo....tramping!

Hello all! I know it has been a while since i have blogged but all is fine, no need to send the search party out just yet, Charlie and Caroline haven't killed me yet! ;0)

So onto our recent tramps (For those not versed in Kiwi language tramping = walking!)

Firstly we completed a very sedate and picturesque walk along part of our Charlie's very own, Queen Charlotte's Track in the northern Sounds near Picton. Here we didn't see another soul and had the deserted sandy coves just to ourselves for lunch. From here we thought we would pick up the pace a bit and so onto Frans Joseph glacier on the west coast. After seeing the glacier up close yesterday we thought that a more overall view would be in order. For us to do this the only option was a very hard tramp on Alex Knob! Although it was pretty high (1300m) it was still a fairly easy Knob! hahahaha

Onto Wanaka tomorrow - very nice lake apparently! ;0)

Over and out from me!
Love Jo, Charlie and Caroline (plus Ernie of course!)

Welcoming Ernest, poop poop!

We have been travelling around the South Island in our new friend, Ernest or Ernie to his mates. We picked up this green mean machine in Christrchurch and so far taken good care of us. Only one minor engine light problem that was quickly resolved by a friendly garage. Oh and also one small problem which means I cant drive him :-( so im being chauffered around the south island! :-)

We have seen lots of wildlife - sperm whales, seals, albatrosses, penguins, dolphins (dusky and bottled nose!) and also lots of sea and beaches and mountains. Again its been tough life! Oh yes and we have done lots of tramping, I think one of our best tramp so far was a section of Queens Charlotte's Track near Picton. Lovely!

Today (Sunday) on our way to Greymouth from Nelson we visited the faultline of an earthquake, that happened in 1900s. I was quite excited. We also stopped and looked at some limestone formations that are called pancakes. Again I was quite impressed!

Next stop I think for us is Fox Glacier and then Wanaka and then onto Queenstown. So much to see!

Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine back home :-)

Charlie, Jo, Caroline and Ernie xx

Hello from the South Island!

We are now in the South Island - currently in Christchurch....which fells even more like England, especially with road names like Gloucester Street and Oxford Parade!!

We have mainly spent our time exploring the city, tomorrow - being Monday for us we collect a car - we have opted on a different form of transport after sleeping in a very cold Dug! We will then head off to start exploring, hopefully seeing some whales and maybe even letting Jo finally on the slopes with a snowboard!!

Watch this space :-)

Charlie, Jo and Caroline xx

Wind subsided.....so we jumped!!

OMG so the wind went and so did we, literally weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. All the way up in a plane to15,000ft over Lake Taupo and then yeeeee all the way back down to earth. Although I think the way we are both feeling now we are still up there!! A mazing :-)

xx

Rotorua to Taupo

So the blog is back in the hands of its owner....not sure what habbits Miss Meads is talking about but she has a few too....! :-)

Anyho we are now at Lake Taupo - Jo and I are currently sat waiting for the wind to subside so we can then jump out of a plane....the sun is here but the wind is too :-( So watch this space readers...ekkkk! Also planned is more volcano walking - Tongariro Crossing but again we are waiting on the weather....so fingers crossed!

Before arriving here we have had an action packed 2days around Rotorua - we saw lots of things bubbling - mud, water, ground and also walked in the crater of a volanco. Apparently the ground was unstable, we didnt hang around too long! We also went on a Maori experience where we watched the haka but men not wearing alot and ate some food cooked by the energy from the ground. Very tasty lamb.

We have one week left in Dug :-( before handing him back to fly over to the South Island

Weather is getting colder so we are debating what will be best to travel in once we are in the South Island...

Hello to all back home

Charlie, Jo, Caroline and Dug xx

The Blog has been hijacked.....

.... Here's what is really going on...

So these 2 crazy kids have been blogging away but I (Caroline) have finally hacked in. Having lived in close proximity to the pair of them, its true to say that each and everyone of us have bad habits but Jo's are the worst - just ask her....

We have walked, and tramped, and walked and tramped. Jo is to put me back together tomorrow so we can repeat the feat. Has to be said, there is more than a few places to walk around and they are all pretty stunning. Today was the Gorge and the Pit Rim and even though Charlie was beside herself with excitment due to the mud, i have to confess, it was pretty cool.

Pitstopping and the 'Bones Mansion' has been a highlight, we have had a whole load of homecooked food and really good shower and let's not get started on the wine. Thanks Mr Bones and Carol!

Another 4.5 weeks to go for me, and i could definitely get used to this. I may not be on the plane home......

carolinex

Northland done.

Dug, Caroline, Jo and Charlie have successfully navigated themselves around the north of the north island of New Zealand.

Highlights so far:
- picturesque picnic spots in Dug
- sunset/sunrises on beaches (particularly 90mile beach which is in fact only 54mile long!)
- sandboarding down big big sand dunes
- walking to the biggest trees in New Zealand - huge!
- driving in Dug
- amazing scenery whilst driving
- and one for Caroline - a fully loaded fridge (she needs to get out more!!)

Next stop for us all is the Coromandel :-)

Love Charlie, Jo, Caroline and Dug xx

Exploring the North Island

So we are in NZ, 1st couple of days have been interesting to say the least. Anyho to cut a long story short what was going to be 4 of us is now just the 3 of us and myself & Caroline and Jo have been off exploring the North Island. We picked up our 6 berth camper/bus named dug and he has taken us to many places! Poop poop!

Today we have been exploring the Bay of Islands. We went on a boat trip to a little island called Russel, saw a hole in a rock and lots and lots of dolphins. All pretty amazing despite the intial start to the week.

Tomorrow Dug is taking us to see a 90mile beach and hopefully sample some of NZ wine.

Hope all is well back home

Charlie, Jo and Caroine (for 7weeks!!) xx