The D12 takes on the South Island

The D-12 arrive in Wellington! Matt got here first and has a night out and then late friday night the girls arrives. So good to see them. Deb was hard at work so we had to capture out initial reunion on film for her. We also hadWellington tour hosted by kitch (reliving her tour guide days)

Sunday night we boarded the ferry for the trip acorss the cook strait (one we would become very familiar...as we would take it 3 times in a week). Luckily we were able to sweet talk the ferry man into playing our favourite tv shows on the big screen.

We spent sunday night in picton and then picked up our car - Pudney. The Pudster had a few issues with pick up with all 5 of us piled inside but he (and us) persevered.
Pitstop!!!! We stop a lot, this time for NZ's longest swingbridge. Good thing we had our trusty ponchos to get us through this rainy afternoon.



Roadtrip... Vegas baby vegas!!!

Yup we really are that cute. Matching Kathmandu hoodies in Franz Joseph.

We did the Franz Joseph day hike up the glacier.




Matt and Kitch were in the confident group - can't you see that confidence (yeah right!)

Dont fall in a crevass Kelly!

Monica lives dangerously! She is the queen of danger.

Yup we really did it. The three bravest girls around if you ask me (although not so brave immediately before jumping) Scariest thing ever but so exhilerating.

We did it!!!



Next stop gondola and luging on the mountains in Queenstown.


And what better way to end a day of bungy jumping then drinks, drinks, drinks.

Things that make you go Hmm...I love a bar that plays C&C music factory.

Beautiful views.

We went to the Antartic centre in Christchurch - This is windchill of -18...a typical winter day at home and yet look at the pain on our faces.

One last dinner and then back to Wellington for two days to rest up, grab Tom and head out for roadtrip for #2.

Gold Coast

View from my plane - South Island top left and North Island bottom right

I (Debi) decided I needed a sunny vacation to get away from the fall chill. My friend Yvonne (a friend who is nursing in Auckland) joined me on our first adventure to Australia. We flew into The Gold Coast on Friday the 12th and fell asleep early to rest up for beach time. On Saturday we met up with my friend Mike Bond (a friend from Clevelands House) who lives on The Gold Coast. He showed us around and took us out on Saturday night with some of his friends. I didn't drink too much so I offered to drive everyone home in his car. What I didn't know is that it was standard and I hadn't tried standard on the left hand side of the road. But I thought I would give it a go. After a couple of technical difficulties I got everyone home in one piece! On Sunday we were invited to Mike's Mothers Day BBQ. She was our surrogate mother for the day. It was so delicious. Mike dropped us off at our hostel for the next two days and we immediately hit the beach. I was determined to get rid of my "moon tan". We also explored Surfers Paradise, did a little suveniours shopping and relaxed. We also hit up the wax museum and saw the new Kylie Minogue wax sculpture that cost them 70 000 dollars. Who knew Wax was that pricey. I also tried Kangaroo for the first time and I can't say it was a good experience. It didn't help that Yvonne was pretending to be a kangaroo while I was chewing. I flew out on Tuesday and arrived in Wellington where it was 12 degrees. After only sunny 24 degree weather I wasn't impressed. But we only got four days in Wellington and we are off on our next trip of the snowy South Island! Good thing I didn't bring a winter coat.


View of Surfers Paradise from "The Spit"


Mike's Family Home







Surfer's Paradise Beach



My kangaroo experience...