Yesterday I left Te Anau - stopping by the WildlifeSanctuary just outside of town. It only has birds, but it has some very cool - very Kiwi - very rare birds. For example, the Takahe - there are only about 200 left in the world. They also had Kea and Kaka and other pretty - colourful birdies.

Drove up to Queenstown - very Aspen-like (Aspen, Colorado that is). It's a ski-town, located in the mountains. However, Queenstown has had quite a bit of room to spread - around a lake - a few differences from Aspen. But it was a very busy little town, good feeling, pretty scenery. Also, home to the Lord of the Rings Shop.

Never been skiing... odd? A girl with the same name as one of the most well-known ski resorts in the --- world... might have something to do with my extreme klutzyness and aversion to pain and broken limbs.

Uhm back on track... lessee...

Oh yes. Spent the night in QT and then headed up to Glenorchy - drove around into Asipring National Park - towards Paradise - yes it's a name of a place - and the woods were mossy and green and gorgeous - very elfy. As in Lothlorien elfy - where they filmed part of Lothlorien!

The mountains around there are in the opening shots of the first two movies.

I took my first jet-boat ride up the river. AWESOME! Twisty - Swirley - Coldy - Rainy - but FUN FUN FUN! Also saw where they set up and filmed Isengard - right next to the river.

Took a couple of short tramps through the woods - good to make you extra cold and wet, what with the mountain rains. But really, honestly LOTS of fun. Very glad I did it. Was lucky too - group of only 6 of us and the driver - not the usual 14.

In Wanaka, another pretty little town, nestled in the mountains, wrapped around a lake. Nice little drive, LOTS of photo-ops - which you KNOW I took advantage of.

Spending the night here and then heading up north... somewhere... wherever I feel like!

Back in Kaikoura - love of my life! Well... you know :)

I missed out on Mt. Cook - opted for the West Coast route and saw the glaciers and pancake/blow hole rocks.

I saw both Fox and Franz Josef glaciers - kinda neat. Wasn't swooning over them or anything though.

Spent last night in Nelson and drove into Kaikoura today. Feels good to be back. Staying at same place as last time and guy remembered me and stuff :) Was nice.

I swear the rain is following me though - been nothing but rain, especially the last week - and here in Kaikoura I just got poored on. Hoping it lets up tomorrow - wanna hang out at the beach!

I'm on the waiting list for swimming with the dolphins - REALLY hope I get in on that. If not I could still do it up north.

Feeling much better, just a residual cough - slightly annoying.

Getting excited about Christmas with the family and going back to MN - seeing friends again. Can't beleive I'm leaving the South Island in 3 days - doesn't seem possible. And leaving NZ in two weeks... we won't even go there.

Hmmm.. thought I'd have more to say. Nothing too exciting has happened though - just lots of driving.

Oh! I finally got to see a KIWI! The feathered kind! I spent night before last in Hokitika and they have a little aquarium-zoo-type thing. It was dark, as they're nocturnal - but I did get to see not one, but two kiwis! Very exciting. Unfortunately, the tuatara was in hiding. Also a LOVELY view of the Tasman Sea - gorgeous - from a restraunt there.

I made it into the 8:30am swim today and then when I called they said they were cancelling all swims today because of the swells.

I was put back on the waiting list and I was just scheduled for a 12:30pm swim tomorrow... keeping my toes crossed.

I spent about 2 1/2 hours this morning posting pictures to My Photo Blog so I hope you enjoy those - there's lots of 'em.

Spent some time on the beach earlier, but there's a pretty cold wind coming off the ocean so I only stayed out about an hour. Also spent some time out at the seal colony - they had a baby too :) not as small as the one I saw at Cape Foulwind - but a baby still.

Mostly well finally....

Talked on the phone to a cousin yesterday =) and Mary K today =)

Yup!

I did it, number 2 on my list-of-things-to-do-before-I-die!

I swam with dolphins!

Dusky dolphins here in Kaikoura.

Cold water - 12ft + swells - little sea sickness, but I did get in the water and swim with them :) And managed not to get sick *cough* thank goodness!

No pictures from being in the water with them - too murky - darn storms. Had opportunity to take pictures from the boat though. I'll try to find time to post some dolphin jumping pics - if any come out - so hard with the swell and they're so fast!

But I did it!

/bounces around for joy

Weather turned icky again - cold rainy windy.