South island here we come!

We've done such alot since my last update. I really need to write more often but time seems to just disappear. Since we left Raglan we've been to Rotorua which smells of eggs because of all the sulphur. It was a really amazing place though dispite the smell. Our bus driver took us all out the night we got there to one of the sulphur pools, where a hot river meets a cold river. He lit candles all around it and it was just like having a really hot bath with lots of people. It was really amazing.

On the way to Rotorua we went to Waitomo to do some caving. We basically had to wear heavy duty wet suits and big steel toe capped boots and had to walk on rocks, in water, swim and go tubing (sit in a blow up tube). The tubing part was brilliant. We all had to turn out lights of and floated down an under water river and look at the glow worms, there were thousands of them and they were really beautiful. I'm really glad we did it. It was quite scary at some points though like when we had to crawl down a really long and small tunnel in the pitch black!

While we were in Rotourua we went Zorbing which is so much fun! We ended up going 3 times. The three of us all went in one ball together and they threw a load of water in and then we had to try and stand up and roll down the hill but we all ended up falling over before we had even started rolling. It was so much fun. Apparently they have one in the Lake District so when i go up there i'll be doing it again. We also did other adventure type stuff while we were there. Me and Hannah did what they call a Swoop which is where you get hoisted up really high together and then they drop you but it's not like a bungy jump because it turns into a swing. That was really good too but very scary as you have to pull the cord to let you drop yourself. We also did a high speed jet boat that goes round a course incredibly fast. Ellie did a ride that was like a simulated sky dive where loads of air is pushed up and you float on top of it, a bit like flying really. She really enjoyed that and we have lots of videos to prove it.

After Rotorua we were on out way to Taupo but before we got there Me and Hannah stopped off for a Skydive! We flew up to 12000 feet and jumped out of a plane! I really loved it and want to do it again. The scenery was amazing and the feeling of free falling was fantastic. I got the video of it so you guys can see it when i get back.

We spent a couple of nights in Taupo and then went on to the national park where me and Hannah did the Tongariro Crossing. It was meant to be a 7-8 hour walk but we stormed it and did it in 5hours 40 mins, we're very proud of ourselves as it's the hardest walk i have ever done. They call a big part of it "devils staircase" and you can see why. We also saw alot of where lord of the rings was filmed and climbed Mordor.

We're now in Wellington which is a really lovely city. We went to the museum today which was really good but we're moving onto the south island which is meant to be even more beautiful than the north so looking forward to it and will keep you posted.

love lucy

xxx