New Zealand

July 1st - August 27th 2001

One of my favourite stops. The amazing Glaciers, Fiords, Volcanoes & Thermal areas, the abundance of wildlife including Dolphins, Whales & Penguins & the clean fresh environment. Not to mention the extreme sports available!! My advice is to make sure you allow enough time to experience it all. New Zealand stretches 1600Km from North to South, consisting of two islands. The North island is 115,000 sq Km and the South island 151,000 sq Km. The US is 10,400 Km away, Fiji 1700 Km and Australia 2250 Km. The land mass is larger than the UK but 36 times smaller than the USA. It has a population of 3,800,000 people, 70% of which live in the five major cities. 13.8% are NZ Maori, 75.8% NZ European, 5.3% Pacific Island polynesians and 4.5% asians. There are many volcanoes and thermal areas some of the well known ones like Rotorua,Tongario, Ruapehu & Ngauruhoe are amazing. Auckland alone has over 50 volcanic cones like One Tree Hill (Which now has no tree!!) & was the hill from the popular U2 song.

Week One

I spend 4 days in Auckland having a look around the city, visit the 328m Sky tower, & then the Americas Cup Village. I then cross the Rangitoto Channel to check out the extinct Rangitoto (meaning "Blood Red Sky") volcano, before heading South to Rotorua in the bay of Plenty Via Waitomo, famous for its caves & Gloworms.

Week Two

Heading to The Tongariro National Park for New Zealands finest 17Km one day trek, via the Lady Knox Geyser. A stop off in Lake taupo for my Third skydive, although this is an oxygen assisted 14,000ft jump!! Reaching speeds of 200Kph over new Zealands largest Lake Taupo. what a week....

Week Three

Arriving in Wellington where I stay for a couple of days, and watch The Kiwi's Vs The Wallabies at the Westpac Wellington stadium. A days kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park Nr Nelson and finally head towards Greymouth with a short stop at the Buller Gorge, Foulwind Seal colony, The Truman Track in Paparoa National Park & finally The spectacular Pancake rocks at Punakaiki.

Week Four

Some Goldpanning at the Ross Gold Mine then onto Franz Josef. The South Westland coast of New Zealand lies in the "roaring forties" where relentless moisture-laden westerly winds drive across the open miles of the Southern oceans. Slightly inland from the coast two of the earth's major plates are currently grinding together in an active collision. The eastern (Pacific) and western (Australian) plates meet along the New Zealand Alpine Fault which cuts diagonally through the South Island (and the Franz Josef Village!). Along this suture the rocks are being squeezed upward and southward at over 10mm per year, forming the abrupt mountain chain known as the Southern Alps of New Zealand, just a few kilometres from the ocean. Here, as the windflow of the roaring forties is directed upward over the Alps the rising cloud is forced to drop huge volumes of rain and snow, giving rise to some of the most dynamic glaciers in the world. The gem of these is my next stop, Franz Josef Glacier. Afterwhich I head towards Wanaka via Makorora trying out the awesome Wikins River Shotover Jet.

Week Five

I stop off in Wannaka, which Ireally recommend as its a beautiful town North of Queenstown and closer to the Cardrona Ski field. This saves an hours drive and if you have time it has a great winter sports atmosphere. Queenstown is more suited for The remarkables ski area.

Here I teach Richard & Gordon how to snowboard although looking at the pictures of my jumping maybe I should have spent more time practising those!!

Week Seven

I hire a Maui Campervan with Richard & Gordon and head towards Milford Sounds. This is one of New Zealands most famous tourist spots & is the most visited fiord. The highlight was the 1695m high Mitre Peak which provided some outstanding pictures at sunset.

Week Eight

I spend a day snowboarding at The Remarkables in Queenstown which ended abruptly after snapping my board. Then a day at "Live Wire" which looks quite easy but turned out to be a real knee trembler, before heading to Kaikoura for some whale watching and piloting a Cessna 150.