From Queenstown we booked a one day excursion to the Milford Sound with a few of our friends. It was absolutely beautiful the entire drive down there, which takes about 4 hours. Once you are there you board a ferry which takes you on a cruise around the sound. There are waterfalls everywhere and the fog just above the mountain peaks made it seem like a painting! We ended our 8 days in Queenstown, losing other Kiwi traverlers daily...so sad! We absolutely loved this town and both said it was probably the one place in New Zealand we could acutally live in.
On our way from Queenstown to Christchurch, which would be our last stop in NZ, we went white water rafting on the Rangitata River. All of the rafters stay in a lodge together the night you arrive and go rafting the next day. We lucked out being that there were only 7 of us staying in the whole lodge that sleeps probably 30 people. It was raining pretty hard when we arrived but it almost went with the whole cabin vibe. We woke up the next morning, after a day of relaxing and started our rafting adventure. To go along with the running theme of NZ, we put on our funny outfits complete with helmets. The first half hour on the river is pretty mellow, while you learn everything you need to know, including what to do if you fall out in the middle of a grade 5 rapid....AHH scary! You start in a grade 3 rapid, which I'm pretty sure we thought was already a grade 5! Once we survived the first rapid, the rest just seemed exciting! The grade 5 rapids were incredible...thank god for the well trained staff (thats for you moms!) Such a rush and so much fun, we were laughing the whole time! At one point you stop and get to jump off a 10 meter rock (we are getting better and better at this, Britt actually went on the first count to 3!!!!!!) 10 meters (30 ft) is pretty freeking high when you are standing on the top looking down at the river! After you land you get to float down the river (in freezing glacier water) for a while and then get back on your raft. It was an amazing day ended with a bbq and a ride to Christchurch!
New Zealand was absolutely amazing and we are so sad to leave it! Looking forward to Australia...
Hi ladies.. well I've been meaning to write on this for some time now, but you know I'm pretty busy over here in Santa Barbara....NOT!! Come backkkk! I miss your shining faces dearly. Well from the look of it you guys are obviously having a horrible time...haha...i cant even begin to express how jealous of you I am that both of you have the balls to go bungee (sp?) jumping, sky diving, and white water rafting...I would be proud of myself if i simply got on the airplane LOL. Ok...well keep em comming...as I sit here and study for my midterm tomorrow (ew i know)...you two are probably a) doing something extremely dangerous, b) hanging out with cute boys from AUstrailla, or c) enjoying the heat on the beach (heard its crazy hot there)...either way be safe..Have fun...Love you both! Talk to you soon!
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