Heading north....

Good moro my friends.

I sit in Wellington, the capital (yes, it's not Auckland) of New Zealand. The more time I spend in this country, the more I like it. The hostels are a lot different from anywhere I've stayed, too. So decent, so homely, I thought the owner was about to let me have a shot of his wife. Her car, I meant.

Since leaving Queenstown, we've travelled far and wide. Our first stop - Te Anau. A quick overnight stay in the 2nd smallest place I've ever been means an early morning drive to Millford, the smallest place I've ever been.

We jump on a boat, and head out onto Millford Sound, named wrongly because it's a fjord. What the hell's a fjord you ask? My friends, a fjord is a make of Norweigan car. BOOM BOOM.

While aboard the 'Pride of Millford' I stick my camera onto 'take-a-belter' mode and press the button...



On our way back to Queenstown (advertised as a 7 hour drive-done in 5) we have to stop and get a picture of this sign. Believe it or not, this place is a mile and a half up the road from 10 Mile Bush...



We arrive back in Queenstown for a couple of nights, where I come up with a brilliant plan... Why don't I jump off a very high platform with a large elastic band round my ankles? The finest rhetorical question I had ever asked myself. Up until the point I had such an elastic band tied round said ankles when I asked myself 'What the hell am I doing?'

Yes people, it's the largest bungee jump in New Zealand. This photo doesn't really do the drop justice - the ravine is so deep that my camera couldn't pick it up...



Elastic tied, check. Camera tethered (around my wrist), check. Balls tucked in, check. Adrenaline pumping, CHECK!!

Now, here's the good bit. I jumped from 440ft up with my digital camera recording. The resultant video is a bit mental, please accept my apologies for all the swear words. The only bodypart I seemed to have any control of whatsoever was my bladder. This video is big, 20M. It can be found here.

When I was being pulled up, I had no idea what I'd just done. It was amazing. Not as amazing as the news I received at the top - 'Sorry Mickey, we missed the video - you'll need to jump again' Oh yes. Ohhhhhh yaaaaaaas!

I've got my 2nd jump on vhs, you can all see it when I get home, i'll stick it up on here as well in September.

Back to the hostel and straight onto the beers. We hook up with Laura and Chris from Fraser Island, lose a few games of pool (every single one of them) but, hey, who gives a shit - I just did two bungee jumps! I'll take the credit for telling a quality joke...



A long drive up to Franz Josef leads us to yet another quality hostel, and a trek up the steepest commercially guided glacier in the world...



We watch the final of the Super12's after bumping into Catherine and Lucy, pals from the Whitsundays and eventually drive north to Renwick, right in the heart of the Malborough wine region. A view not to miss comes along...



We spend a couple of nights in Renwick, one of which Millardo and I spent walking from winery to winery getting free samples. We're not sure how we got home.

And so a ferry crossing later, Wellington is our temporary home for the next couple of days - a quick view, if you please...



A quick visit to the excellent Te Papa museum leads us to 'Bush City', an outdoor exhibit. And no, it's not full of villiage idots looking for Bin Laden. It does, however have the best tagline of any cultural thing I've ever seen...

'WELCOME TO BUSH CITY - COME GET A TASTE OF OUR BUSH....'

These Kiwi's know how to laugh at themselves.

6 days until we leave for Fiji, where I won't be able to make a post on here, so expect one last update on the 1st of June.

Later,

Mick

M + P - Everything good to go paw, give you another call soon x

V + B - Will phone you guys sometime soon x

Rod - Commeth Thursday, you will be a free man - I expect a call at 5am.

BC - Well played BC - Brilliant news - See ya later dickhead! (or Gerrard)

Jackie - Love the mugshot Jacks, NZ is amazing, just as you said!

Cousins Ken + Fi - Hope everythings sorted now!

Phil, Ross, Mitch and James - LETS OFF ROAD! Can't believe you rolled the 4x4, Mitch should get his boz chopped! Jackhammer action on the cards!!

Ross - Blotto for the next 5 years!!!! Well done mate, quality.

Colin - Eh ye ye Bungee ye

Bob - JUNIOR! EWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

Loy, Steve, Chris - When you guys finish your exams?

Andy - Was going to steal that sign for your appartment.

Caz - Public showing ay? Sounds dodgy to me - enjoy it doll, well done!

Faisal - A HUGE Happy 'cala' Birthday for Fais - 22 on Saturday!

Kimmy G - Putinta? Gotta love these kids.

Emma - Good luck with the boys!

Catherine and Lucy - So good seeing you guys again. Probably see you on the East coast!

Mike D - Enjoy the rest of NZ ma nizel

Chris and Laura - A good night had by all - take care folks, door's always open up in Glasgow!

Richie, Glen - Homeward bound lads - take care

Line - Line you F*****R - hope you're doing well doll!