Day 4: We hiked around to Mt. Cook base to get a closer look at the massive mountain. Then later that day we took these kayaks on a glacial lake and over to icebergs and the glaciers terminal face, or where the glacier ends. They also had this museum on Sir Edmund Hilary, who is a kiwi and was one of the first 2 people to ever climb Mt Everest.
Day 5: Today we had to drive 6 hours to the other side of the mountain (literally only 15 miles from where we were) so we could play on some of the only glaciers in the world that are still growing. On the way, we stopped in Wanaka at Puzzle World to play in a human maze. It is really amazing how the west side of the mountains is like a rainforest while the east side is more like farm land. 
Day 6: I think this day was everyones favorite. We took a helicopter up the Fox Glacier and hiked around it for a few hours. We found some awesome ice caves to crawl through and the glacier terrain is unreal. 
Day 7: We went 15 km down the road to the Franz Joseph glacier and hiked to the terminal face, well as close as we could get. These massive glaciers move so quickly. I think they said around 2 meters a day, which is like 6 ft. We got back in the car for another 6 hr drive over Arthurs pass to Christchurch. This was a really pretty drive through the northern part of the alps. 
Day 8: This morning we were up at 4am to be picked up and go on a hot air balloon. I have always had a fear them, like we would get blown into a crazy mountain side or go way to high and the basket would break or something totally crazy. I dont know why, but the whole time I was silently freakin out. It was really amazing and the views were incredible. We had the largest balloon in all NZ and the 5th in the world. It was massive. I dont know why but I always thought of them like slightly bigger birthday balloons. Good to know its a bit more sophisticated than that. 
Day 9: We spent the day in Christchurch, which isnt as cool as Queenstown, but still a beautiful city. Our flight back to Auckland was today and my families flight home so we relaxed as much as possible.
The End...well of that leg of the trip
Day 1: We got in around lunch and drove over to Glenorchy, which sits on the other side of the lake. It was a nice hour drive along side the lake with stunning mountains in the background. We also found this waterfall on the side of the road which led to beautiful pics. And the countryside is full of these different colored lupin flowers. 
Day 2: We went jetboating, well the boys did and I watched. Apparently its frowned upon for prego chicks. We also had a rock skipping contest on the lake before we took a jeep tour through some of the back country around town. They took us to a few of the LOTR sites, driving through rivers to pan for gold (TONS of gold in these mountains), and to Skippers Canyon. 
Day 2: Tutukaka coast. Again in search of surf but this time south east of where we were staying. Still no good waves, but absolutely gorgeous. Dreaming of a holiday home here one day and showing Justin my dancing skills.
Day 3: My dad and brother flew into today to join us for the next 15 days. It was so good to see them and take on my brother in a game of chess. I had to play him when he was still drowsy off the flight or there would have been no way I could win. 
Day 4: Cape Reinga and the Giant Sand Dunes. We went to the farthest north part of the country and watched the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean come together. It was about a 3 1/2 hour drive from our place, but again an great drive. On the way back we stopped and played in the sand dunes. 
Day 5: We took a boat out through the Bay of Islands (theres about 144 total islands) and came across a massive pod of dolphins. They guessed there were total 45 dolphins and tons of babies. They were so active and jumpy, I loved it. We then cruised out to the Hole in the Rock (big enough to drive the boat through) and back through all the privately owned islands. We also came across a baby hammerhead shark about 4 ft. long hanging out with the dolphins. 
Day 6: we headed back down to Auckland to catch our flight down to Queenstown on the South Island. 
