The Time of my Life

Traveling around the South Island was marvelously spectacular! We drove down from Kaiaua by the Firth of Thames, about maybe 7 hours to tip of the North Island and took a 3 hour ferry boat ride across. From there, we journeyed to Kiaoua. For the week we stayed at a Marae studying ecotourism. On the Marae we stayed in the Wharenui, which has a large room covered in colorful carvings telling the story of Maori ancestors. Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. All 25 of us lined the sides of the room with mattresses. It was such an experience to share a room with 25 people! One night I got up to go to the bathroom, when i came back, my eyes could not adjust to the darkness and I accidentally crawled onto Erikka, who was sleeping next to me, instead of my bed! While we were here, we were surprised with the opportuity to go swimming with dolphins! Something that was on my list of things to do before I die. It was so psyched I hardly slept. We awoke at 5am to catch our boat, and arrived to rough seas. This company is unique in that the dolpins are completely wild, so we had to come to them. We drove for a while with no dolphin sighings. Just as we were turning back, there they were! We came up on a pod of about 500! they would do backflips and dip in in out of the water as far as you could see! Finally, the horn blew and at last we splashed into the icy cold water. The dolphins would come out of nowhere through the murky water! They would circile, swim and make eye contact with you! It was so incredible and something I will never forget!

From there we went to south to Christchurch for a night and got up at 7 to catch a bus to CASTLE HILL!!! We met my friend Jessa there and there just so happened to be a bouldering competition going on and tons of people to climb with! we got a ride to a campsite on a river down the road and the next day we went to Flock Hill with some new fiends we made. I loved castle hill! I dont think anything could top it!

(Me on top of a boulder at Flock hill)

For the rest of the week we stayed at an education center just up the road form castle hill and studied alpine vegetation. It was so cold where we stayed. This is Amy, me, Elise, and Steph freezing!

(Me, Erikka, Steph, Codi, Emily G, and Julie after doing a hike in Craigieburn)

After a long week in the cold alpine environment we started to head north again. We got a weeked off in Nelson and I went sky diving! I have dreamed of going since I turned 18 and finally I got to go! we got the plane was so tinny it fit like 6 people. The best part was siting on the edge of the plane's door, feet dangling under the plane and the tumbleing out, watching the plane shrink into the distance! I loved it! but it wasnt as scary as I thought it would be, I think I'll have to try bunggy jumping next ;-)

Brian, Codi, and me before ski diving!

After the jump, we continued up to Takaka to go climbing at Paynes Ford!!! We stayed at the Hangdog campground where all the climbers stay. There was the best swimming hole with a slack line between two boulders and a rope swing! We climbed there for about 4 days and that wasnt even enough.

The adventure to the South Island was over. Back to the North Island for some Directed research fun! I will be researching the effects of marine debris! yay!