We went paragliding - well we are in Queenstown!

The adventure capital of the world! Today we went jet boating through the Shotover river canyons!!!

Wildlife pics.....

NOTE: The people are Edd and Michelle, who we met in Akaroa...and not wildlife.....obviously!!! (Although Edd was our Dolphin guide!)

Faye and Mark's Wildlife Week!!

What a week we have had, Sir David Attenborough would be proud! We finished our time in Christchurch with a trip on the Trans Alpine Express....a lovely train journey through the Southern Alps....it was nice, but very very very wet!!! We did manage to squeeze in a walk in Arthurs Pass to see Hell's Punchball Falls....the wet bums were worth it!! We then left Christchurch and headed to Akaroa, taking the Tourist Scenic Route...and what a route, we have never driven roads like it, i cannot do the views justice with words....pictures can hardly capture how amazing it looks - driving through the mountain ranges, formed by 10 million years of volcanic activity, steep drops to bays on each side, cows and sheep everywhere!!!! Akaroa is a gorgeous little town on the Banks Peninsula, and we loved it! We stayed at a very friendly hostel...Bon Accord...and met some lovely people...Hello to Edd and Michelle!!! Apparently the French got to Akaroa first, and even though the British claimed it...everything in the town has french names and styles! Our wildlife tour began on the drive.....more cows than you can imagine (i'm sure there are more cows in new zealand than sheep!), sheep and wild birds, in particular the Australasian Harrier Hawk. The sheep (and cows also, we discovered)...have a strange way of runnning up the road straight ahead of you when they are scared...instead of simply side stepping out of the way!!! The trick is to speed up a bit!!! Next came the dolphins, Hectors Dolphins, the smallest in the world, and the only dolphins with rounded dorsal fins and flippers! The are only found off the banks peninsula, and we were lucky enough to both swim and kayak with them! They love to play and investigate what is going on, so we were easy targets!!!! There is nothing like the feeling of floating, in wet suit, flippers and snorkel mask in murky water.....and suddenly from what seems like underneath you, or right beside you a dolphin appears!!! It made me jump every time!!! The more noise you make the better, and they especially liked Mark's singing! It was freezing cold but you didn't notice after a while! At one point 5 or 6 dolphins were circling me, and i managed to swim after them in their draft...although not for long as i was not quite fast enough!!! It was simply magical! We kayaked with them the next day....4 hours of solid kayaking to reach them, but worth the sore arms, they were just as inquisitive, and loved the kayak!!!! From dolphins we move on to some land wildlife....possums, pigs, peacocks, chickens and ducks - all residents at the mountain lodge we stayed at!!! From Akaroa we drove on to Lake Tekapo, Twizel and down to Dunedin. From Dunedin you can get to the Otago Peninsula, and this provided our next wildlife treat! We stoppped at the Aquarium and saw amongst others, eels, sharks, crayfish and hermit crabs being fed! Then it was on to the Yellow Eyed Penguins! These are rare penguins that inhabit the south islands around new zealand. We visited them in a reserve, walking and climbing through trenches so as not to scare them by our height! They walked out of the sea after a hard day's fishing and were heading home for tea!!! They did not seem to notice us at all, and went about their business for us to watch! Also living on the beach were a number of New Zealand Furr Seals!! Apparently it is a bit of a batchelor pad for those males that haven't found a mate yet!!! The biggest treat was the Blue Penguins....the smallest in the world and extremely rarely seem! We left the Yellow Eyed Penguins, and equiped with as many layers of clothes as possible, set off for the next bay. Blue Penguins spend their days at sea, returning only after dark to their nests on land. We stood with around 20 other wildlife spotters and waited for the sun to set.....and as it did so, suddenly, out of what looked like an empty sea, sprang about 20 - 25 penguins.....they came from nowhere, and once on land began to walk up the beach towards us, we stood absolutely still and quiet, straining our eyes to see what we could with hardly any light....they walked right past us to get to their nests, seemingly made confident by the darkness! One penguin actually did a circle right around mine and Mark's feet. After a little while more sprang from the sea....all in all about 3 groups emerged over about an hour, and made the journey up the beach to their nests....crooning to each other that they were home as they went. There was no tourist attraction, no signs, no charge...just nature...and one of the most amazing experiences of our trip! And it doesn't stop there!!! We were up early the next day to visit the Great Royal Albatross Colony living on Otago Peninsula. You cannot imagine the size of an Albatros until you see them up close, a wingspan of around 3m and hip-height when standing! They glide on the wind rather than fly, and are so graceful and effortless! The spend most of their lives at sea, leaving the nest at around 9 months, and not returning to land for around 5 years.....they spend this time circumnavigating the globe, in the 40s latitude around Antartica. I was reminded of studying The Rhyme of the Ancient Marina by Samual T. Coleridge at school.....and strangely now wish to read it again! As well as on the peninsula we were lucky enough to see an Albetross flying with us on our cruise of Doubtful Sound....it wasn't there for long, but as we entered the Tasman Sea it joined us, or perhaps we joined it....for a few moments journeying together. We also saw a number of Stewart Shags....another extremely rare bird! We have seen soooo much and learnt so much this week....it has been amazing! One little fact for you all.....New Zealand has NO natural mammals(except for a few bat species).....before people arrived birds had evolved to fill every neiche....many becoming flightless and growing to giant proportions. Sadly with people came new animals, and with them the extinction of around 80% of New Zealand's native creatures. We really have no idea what we do! We have been priviledged to see some of the spectacular ones that remain. xxx

Doubtful Sound Cruise

I'm wearing my STF TShirt...honest....look close and you can see!!!!

The most incorrect guide book comment ever!!!

We are just back to Te Anau from 24 hours cruising within Doubtful Sound, and it has been amazing! (I seem to be using that term a lot in New Zealand!!!) We boarded a Real Journeys vessel yesterday lunchtime and set off into the Sound (which is actually technically a fiord, as it was carved out by glacial action). The boat was amazing, we felt like royalty and had our very own penthouse double cabin, complete with ensuite and amazing views!!! We cruised throughout Doubtful Sound, and out to the Tasman Sea, stopping at Crooked Bay for some kayaking and nature spotting! We spent the night moared in the Sound, playing card games and chatting and awoke this morning to complete wilderness! And the biggest guide book lie ever......it said in our book that we may want to take our own food onboard as you didn't get very much! How wrong could they be!!!! We were given a 'delux' lunch box on arrival, then hot muffins and tea, then after kayaking there was hot soup, then dinner.....which consisted of more options for main and for desert than Mum and Nan have ever given us!!! (and that is lots for those who don't know my family!). There was no limit to what you could eat...appart from perhaps the wish to be able to move again! It was topped off this morning with a gorgeous breakfast...continental and cooked.....perfect! We are now on major diets!!! The Sound itself was amazing....one of the only places in the world that is completely untouched by man....infact it is so remote that a few years ago there was a huge earth quake (as it lies on a major fault line)....and while major nations throughout the world registered the quake and were ringing New Zealand to offer aid, those in New Zealand were asking 'what earth quake?'.....not one person was hurt, and although you can still see the scares on the land and the reshaping that took place, no damage was done! The Sound is made up of 100s of meters of salt water, topped off with a layer of fresh water...this means the moss and trees grow right to the waters edge...even on sheer mountain slopes. Amazing! Again we met some lovely people, Roy and Andy, Claire and Dick...and learnt some brand new card games!!! xxx

STF at the World's Steepest Street (in Dunedin) - and we drove up it!!!

Mark did the driving!!!!

We're staying at Hogwarts!!!!

No sign of Harry yet, so we may have to find the philosopher's stone alone, but tis still very exciting!!!! (Hogwarts is in Dunedin!) xx

Akaroa and Lake Tekapo

Gorgeous!

Up Up and Away! We went Ballooning!

we were up at 3am, but it was sooooo worth it!!!!! We helped get the balloon in the air, and bring it down, and the only word to describe being up there is peaceful.....i have never been anywhere so quiet! It was amazing! See the views for yourself.... Forgot to say.....Mark sang 'Flower of Scotland' for the tour bus (we were singing songs from our countries!) He was very good and I was very proud!!!! (and it meant i didn't have to sing 'God Save the Queen'!!) hehehehehe xx

Visiting Antartica....and beyond (with STF!)

ok, so seeing John was very exciting, but we have also done other great stuff here in Christchurch, New Zealand also! The first few days saw rain, so we decided to visit Antartica! The picture shows us experiencing conditions at the pole, including a full scle, -40degree snow storm! Christchurch is where the Armed Forces begin all their missions to the pole, so we visited the base they leave from! As well as experiencing conditions, we also got to ride in a snow buggy, it was amazing, i was loving it.....it was like a moon buggy! We went up and down almost verticle climbs, over huge gaps and through a 2m deep pool!!!! Yesterday the weather was much better so we took the Gondela to the highest point surrounding Christchurch and looked out over the area. The land from here to the banks penisula (where we are off to next) was created and shaped by 10 million years of volcanic eruptions....and it makes for an awesome sight! Needless to say STF made it there! We then hired bikes and rode all the way down - wow, at one point i don't think the breaks were doing anything it was sooooo steap - i have never got down a hill so fast in my life!!! xx

We saw John Clease!!!!

ok, so, this is very zoomed in as mark wouldn't let me be a celebrity stalker and take one inside...but....look through the window, see the man with white hair and the blue jacket - that is him!!!!!! i was sooooo excited! (and mark was too if he is honest!!!) hehehehe

You Flamin' Galah!!!!

Here is Mark, with a real Galah!!!!!!! Alf would be proud! xx

Our Melbourne Family!

Meet our Melbourne family....next to me is Lindsay, then Auntie Myrtle, Sue, Mel and Casey, Lance, and in the front...Uncle Den, Leane and Daniel, (Mackensie was in bed already as she is just 1!!) Auntie Murtle is my Grandad's sister....and how much she reminds me of him!!! After starting the week by kindly being picked up at the airport by Sue and Lindsey, we ended the week with them all once again. It was lovely, we spent thursday visiting Portsea and catching up, and friday at a BBQ thrown by Sue and Lindsey. It is hard to know what to say, both me and Mark had a lovely lovely time and felt very welcome. It was like being with family at home. All i can do is encourage mum and dad to get over here as soon as they can.....you would have a great time!!! We will certainly be back....Thank you all the 'down-unders' for a fantastic few days! Faye and Mark xxx

Melbourne - the Rachel Tour!

What a week! A huge huge huge thank you to Rachel for keeping us entertained in the best way possible and for a fab time in melbourne! We breakfasted on a feast every day, cycled around the city (in the rain!!!!), had a BBQ....in the rain and went to see Camile (irish songstress), all on the first day!!! Camile was a inspiration, such control of the band, such presence on stage....and we got to see a special, intimate gig - basically we didn't rush to leave the Spiegeltent (where she was singing) and she performed a few extra numbers to just us, and the camera crew recording her for TV!!! wow - we were backstage!!!! We returned to the Speigeltent on Thursday and managed to get into the sold out La Clique Burlesque show! What a night....circus acts with a twist! I particularly liked the trapese artist who did his act soaking wet from a tin bath.....mmmmm, Mark liked the disappearing hankies!!! (You'll have to ask him for more details!!!) On day two Rachel, or should I say Dafney...the best car in the world (after Lex of course!) drove us up into the bush surrounding Melbourne. We visited Hanging Rock....although due to rain went to the winery rather than climb the rock!!! Luckily for me and Rach, Mark doesn't like wine, so designated driver was decided easily!!!! hehehehe Needless to say the wines got better and better!!!! Then it was on to Mount Macedon View Point, before heading into Daylesford where we were staying in a lovely country cottage! We settled in for a salad tea, video and open fire - Mark could not resist the opportunity to light it, and it was very fitting for the cottage!!! Wednesday saw us up early and off for a trek through the bush on horse back! Our bums have not been the same since!!!! After a lovely lunch at the Convent we settled for a well needed relaxing afternoon at Hepburn Natural Springs and Spa! How wonderful.....Mark had a floatation tank, I had a facial and Rachel had a massage! Just what the doctor ordered!!!! That evening we continued the healthy theme with a vegatarian meal in St Kilda at Soul Mamas, followed by cocktails at Ginger - ok, well almost healthy - they did have fruit in!!!!! Thanks to Rachel once again for a fab time, and to Souman and all Rachel's friends for making us feel soooo welcome!!!! Faye and Mark xxx ps. We had the best best best chocolate in the world at Max Bremners!!!!

Meeting friends!

It was lovely to meet up with Mark's cousin Angela and her husband Paul in Sydney! We had a great evening of drinks and Thai food!!! We also met up again with Gareth from our Kakadu trip in Bondi, what a fab and entertaining evening!!! We wished we could have stayed longer! Mark and Gareth spent a long while swapping music! I love boys!!! xx

FlipFlops!!!!! What size world do we live in?!

Anything can be barbied - at Jo and Phils!!!

Hello all! What a few weeks we have had! We spent our time in Sydney recupperating at our friends Jo and Phils, it was fab. We relaxed, watched TV and ate lovely food - all cooked on the BBQ!!! Is there anything that can't be barbied???? we had pizza, bacon and egg breakfast, stirfry, steak and of course, Phil's speciality.....beer onions!!!! A huge thank you to them, Boris the Kitten and their family for a lovely week. As well as relaxing and eating BBQs we visited bondi beach, and inner city Sydney. I climbed the harbour bridge (which took 3 hours while wearing a rather fetching jump suit!!) and Mark learnt to surf! I had a go too, but much preferred reading my book on the beach! Phil, Jo and Mark meanwhile took on the mighty waves! The beach was gorgeous, and only reached by 4x4 over the sand.....i think i am going to have to get me one of those!!!!! We also visited the Natural History Musuem - which was surprisingly tiring! Also, a little tip for when travelling around Oz....Jo and Phil took us to a RSL club for food one night - apparently they are located in loads of places around oz! The best all you can eat chinese i have ever had - and the most amazingly huge (and slightly messy) prawns in the world!!!! So if you see a RSL club...head on in! Mark also had a bit of a lucky streak on the pokies.....the tag team of Mark (the crazy gambler) and Phil (the 'collect now' man) lead them to convert $2 into $20!!! That can't be bad! (and paid for the drinkd all night!!!) Lovely! Faye xxx

STF Tshirt Challenge - Bondi Beach!

STF Kakadu Crocodile Cruise! (Northern Territory)