New Zealand
We flew to Auckland in North Island and a couple of days later headed for the Waitomo Gloworn Caves. We then went on to Rotorua to see the thermal springs and geyser at the Te Puia Maori Centre. Then to the Huka Falls which are fed from Lake Taupo. Then through the volcanic area to Wellington, the capital. Next we caught the ferry for the 3-hour journey to Picton on South Island and on to Christchurch. We continued west to Geraldine and then into the mountains. We took a 45 minute plane flight to view the amazing scenery of the Southern Alps. Next stop was the Kawarua Bridge to see bungy-jumping from the bridge where at all began. In Queenstown we took a Jetboat ride along one of the shallow river beds. The next day we had a long journey to a wet Milford Sound but we enjoyed a cruise through the sound as far as the open sea and back. After returning to Queensland we went up the west coast to Franz Joseph to walk in the rainforest and see the glacier. We later called at Hokitika, which is the centre of the Jade Industry. At Arthur's Pass we boarded the Trans-Alpine Train for the scenic journey to Christchurch and after a couple of days visiting the city sights we boarded our first flight of a long 37 hour trek home.