Australia part 2 (with pictures!)





Hello from Scotland! As promised, here are a selection of pictures from our last few weeks in Australia. Very sad it's over but we're so looking forward to catching up with everyone soon, once we've thawed out! WHY is it soooo cold?!

 

I have a million and one things to do before Christmas tomorrow, so i'll leave you with the below and fill you in on all the details when I see you! Basically, Part 2 was a series of breakfasts and beaches, both of which Australia does incredibly well!

 

Loads of Christmassy love and hugs,

 

Jill & Craig xxx

 

p.s. sorry for the smaller-sized pictures, I can't seem to make them any bigger in this post!

 

 

 





 

Australia part 2

Hello everyone! 

Sorry for the lack of blog updates! We intended to do a final, photo-heavy post of our last few weeks in Oz today, but faced with a painfully slow internet cafe, the best we could do is upload our favourite one :) Everyone please meet Leeroy, the sea turtle we swam with yesterday in the Great Barrier Reef!

Once back in the UK (Xmas Eve) i'll upload the rest of the photos.

See you all very soon!

Love Jill & Craig xxx

Back to Oz!

Hello from Sydney! We're back in Oz staying with Shones and trying to decide where to go next...i think we'll jump on a bus tomorrow and see where we end up!

We had a very special last week in New Zealand, which as most of you know ended with a proposal! Thank you for all your lovely messages :) we're so happy and can't wait to celebrate with everyone at Christmas!

Here are some pictures from the last week...

After our evening with the Maori's we went North to the Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Plenty. Craig actually RAN to the top of Mount Maunganui (above pic) whilst i was at yoga - legend.

We made a trip to Hot Water Beach where you dig your own little jacuzzi and voila! A spa on the beach! 

The hot springs in some parts can reach 60 degrees! We burnt our feet trying to jump in and out of one bit!

Afterwards we went further north to the Bay of Islands, which were so beautiful....and we saw dolphins!

Yes, Emma, i was absolutely delighted with myself.

Eventually, we made it right to the top of the North Island at Cape Reinga where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. 

Once back in Auckland, we took a ferry out to Waiheke Island, where we hopped around the vineyards and got engaged in the sun - perfect :)

Sending lots of love,

Jill & Craig xxx

New Zealand - North Island (part 1)

Hello! I have to start this post with sad news about the Bear Bus... she took a turn for the worse a few days ago and we had to leave her in Auckland yesterday :(  

We're now in a rental car staying in backpackers lodges! It's been great so far, I'll admit it's nice to have a proper bed again!

RIP Bear Bus

note: we did not have a satellite dish...this was on the fancy camper next to ours. 

We've had a brilliant first week on the North Island. Craig loved Wellington as it had hundreds of great micro breweries - I even tried one called Sauvignon Bomb, just so I felt it wasn't steering too far away from a wine!

We've been making the most of their gorgeous weather and beach-hopping around the Surf Highway, which winds around the base of a volcano so all the beaches are black 

Sunset on the Surf Highway

We made our way to Lake Taupo and tried Stand Up Paddle boarding, our new favourite water sport! More volcanoes in the background -

Craig went for a "Last Of The Mohicans" approach:

The next day we visited Routorua and went to a Mauri Village for dinner

They put on a brilliant show about their history and did an amazing Haka at the end...we've been practicing for the last few days and reckon we're now pretty good!

We're now in the Bay of Islands and will try and get right to the top of New Zealand this weekend. Will post more pictures soon!

Lots of love, 

Jill & Craig xxxx

New Zealand - South Island part 3

Hello from Wellington! We made the crossing yesterday to start the second half of our NZ tour on the North Island - so far, so good! But first some pictures from our last few days in the South...

We had a quiet weekend making our way up the coast after Queenstown, first stopping at the glaciers and then over to Kaikoura for whale watching. I was SO excited for this but the weather had started to close in on our way and the boat tours were being cancelled. We managed to squeeze on the last one, but no whales! Booo! 

Kaikoura was still a gorgeous little place - hopefully I'll see it one day when it's not covered in cloud!

Luckily, we were in the wine region so decided to cheer ourselves up with a tour of the vineyards...

Yes!

Such a fun day, although it did all get a bit silly after the 3rd or 4th tasting...

Afterwards we had a few days relaxing in the little bays around Marlborough Sounds...paradise! 

Can't believe we're half way through our trip now! Goodbye, South Island, we love you!

xxxx

New Zealand - South Island part 2

Hello! As some of you know, our iPad has died :( so blog posts will now come sporadically and slowly from internet cafes along the way! 

We've had a brilliant week since our last post, first arriving in Queenstown, then heading to Millford Sound for a kayaking trip and then down to Dunedin at the coast. 

Queenstown has been my favourite place so far. We headed straight up the gondala when we first arrived to get a better view. 

You can luge back down from the top. Craig probably got to the finish about 10 minutes before me, but at the time i felt like the queen of speed!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

We actually returned to Queenstown yesterday for an extra night because we loved it so much. 

I decided the best way to see the town was to paraglide above it - absolutely amazing!

Craig also had some unfinished business in the form of a bungy jump! 

I was soooooo nervous watching him!

In the middle of our Queenstown visits we went to Millford Sound for a kayaking trip. It's probably the most beautiful place we've ever seen...

Oh and Craig managed to stay in the boat this time! Just as well because we had a double kayak! 

He also wanted me to include this picture of yesterdays breakfast. Have you ever seen such a proud face?!

We're now starting to head north again to see the glaciers and do some whale watching :) Will share some more pictures soon!

Loads of love and hugs

Jill & Craig xxxx