Saturday 17th Sept - (continued!) Last time I left you guys we were getting ready for the Irish Game against Australia,
We hit the hot tub and then got kitted out in everything green we owned. You will notice that I dont own an Irish Jersey -
upsetting and all as this is, I am going to try and get my hands on one for the Dunedin game. They are not easy come by this neck of the woods!cThe game was unreal (as I am sure you will all agree). Us Irish took over joint in the ski lodge and everyone on our Stray bus got behind the Irish team.
Brilliant win - cant wait for the next one!
Sunday 18th Sept - Travel-tastic day...New Zealand is pretty huge, and roads are not great. We spent the whole day on the go to reach Wellington. Lots of lovely photo stops. This was our last day with driver Gollum who warned us about our next driver - Father Ted. Ex-priest, serious aversion to cursing, and does morning prayers on the bus. Eek. Newho -got to Wellington, met up with our friend Giuiliana and said our goodbyes..She was heading back to UK. We'll miss you!
We found the "fanzone" for the England vs Georgia game. These zones are set up in the big cities for fans to watch on massive screens. I had some loverly cava and that finished off a lovely day in welly!
Monday 19th - 6am start to get ferry to the South Island. 2 x Disney movies later we made it over in one piece. Met this Father Ted - we were all on bestest behaviour! Another long day on the bus to get to Abel Tasman National Park. Very far from everything but so beautiful. Another "no phone coverage" night. We stayed at Old Mac Donalds Farm, never did I ever imagine myself checking into a place call Old Mac Donalds Farm. They were galvinised sheds - with Character! We all cooked yummy dinners and had a few quiet drinks, when Father Ted came into the sitting room and asked us to join us in prayer (wierd or wha!) - at which point he told us it was all a sick joke but our reaction was worth it!
Tuesday 20th - We went Sailing in Abel Tasman, this was really cool, we sailed for 2 hours, had a picnic on a fabuous beach. Then had to WALK for 12.5 km to get back to our farm!! Now the walk was amazing, see pics below, but I was ken-ackered after it!The Laois girls saw the G4 come out in me when they suggested I go to the toilet in the Native Bush. Not able. There are certain elements of roughing it I can adjust to - others not so much! Thank God for Victoria Secrets hand sanitizer!
Wednesday 21st Sept - Off to Greymouth. We stopped off the Marlborogh region for some wine tasting. 2 Dollars for 5 wines - not too shabby! Greymouth - This place was a bit of a backward town. We went to the local brewery. Bad idea letting a load of irish pour their own pints and cider for an hour. Start of a great night though. Took over the local pub/nightclub and then made our way back to Fawlty Towers Take 2 for a well earned sleep!
Thursday 22nd Sept- We hit the road for Franz Josef (one of NZ largest Glaciers). We checked into the Rainforest Retreat and took it handy as we knew what lay ahead the next day...a full day hiking on a glacier!
Friday 23rd Sept - Big day - sun was splitting the rocks (but cold!) and off we went to the glacier. Raingear and crampons in place we trekked for 4 hours up to the top of the glacier, though super small crevasses and amazing ice blue terrain. Its very cool to say I have hiked to the top of a Glacier. The glacier is melting at such a massive rate they are not sure how sustainable it is. After 8 hours in total, we hit the bar for some vino and Rugby!
Saturday 24th Sept - Another backward town - Makarora. Detox is in order before the carnage tomorrow night with the Irish Game!We stayed in Gaeltacht style accommodation and we had a little Irish Sorority house going on!
There was literally NOTHING to do in this place. Only make the guys nervous about their skydive tomorrow! All Blacks game - they hammered the French. Nothing much to report from this one horse town!
Sunday 25th Sept - Skydive and Irish Game day!! Clocks changed in NZ last night - so mornings are evening earlier now. Grrr. Headed to Wanaka first thing, Noelle, AnneMarie, Kieran, Dan, Lorraine, Denise and Gemma have decided to jump 15000 feet out of a plane. Im inheriting Denise's LK Bennett shoes if the skydive doesnt go so hot!!
Staying in Queenstown for 4 nights now - I can unpack! We were all super excited about Ireland vs Russia game. And even more excited about being in Dunedin next wk for the Ireland Italy game!
Great first night in Queenstown. This place is really is as good as ppl make it out to be!
Monday 26th Sept - Nursing an almighty hangover due to teapots (full of shots) that were drank last night! We went on gondolas and toboganning at the top of a very hight mountain in Queenstown - views were amazing.
Toboganning was a lot of fun - met a load of Irish ppl and had a grand prix of sorts in our little rally cars!
Tuesday 27th Sept - Nice day being ladies of leisure in Queenstown. Managed to set up a group skype call with my mammy, my aunti candy and kaydee! We are all going skiing tomorrow...just getting ready for heading out now. So over and out ;)
Thats all from me this wk!
Keep in touch - so until Dunedin
SJ xxx
Well as amazing n all as them photos are, i wouldn't be repeating the glacier experience. Looks just gorgeous, but a little high/cold/enclosed fer me. xxxxx
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