Arrived in Christchurch in the South island of New Zealand without my bag. Challenging, as glacier climbing lies ahead. As everyone knows- amazing scenery. Around every corner another John Hinde moment. After three days!!! Bag arrives. Bliss. Note my luxurious backpacker shared bedroom!

Punakaiki National Park en route for Milford Sound and Franz Josef Glacier. Very cold still. Water Mayo temperature or worse.

Milford Sound with a waterfall three times the size of Niagara. Its a vast, incredibly mysterious and beautiful fjord, features like most awesome sites in Lord of the Rings.

Highest rainfall on the whole planet. Rainforest vegetation reaches to the sea in places.

Lake Tekapo for some swimming with dolphins, hundreds of them. And a really good view of a sperm whale.

Then Franz Josef. The glacier is almost at sea level. Its a sort of freak of nature, but we still needed ice pick and cranpons. I felt really professional kitted out.

The colour of the compacted ice and the patterns were etherial and beautiful.

Mount Cook, highest mountain on the South Island and a lovely climb up to lakes with small icebergs floating on the surface. I found some fun walking companions. Sarah and Matt.

Art continues in different forms!!!

The scenery changes all the time. Sometimes, particularly in the north it looks like Mayo.

Then the one activity I had been dreading. Both ross and Erica said it was a must but I was pretty uncertain. Then I thought what else can go wrong? If I can jump out of a plane I can do anything. So I signed up with Steve in Taupo. God was I scared! Sitting on the floor of the plane waiting to jump I simply could not speak.

But It was amazing. Totally beautiful. I recommend it to all. And not scary once you were out.