Out of a plane and through Mordor

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We finished off the North Island of New Zealand and took a ferry today to the south island where we have more time to screw around. Apparently it is much prettier down here. Indeed, everything is green and it is raining as I write this.

After the last update in Rotorua, we went to a thermal park which was basically some smoking crevices that smelled like farts. (That's the sulfur I am told) We also saw a nice geysey that smelled like farts. The next day we went skydiving from 12000 feet over Lake Taupo. It was everything people say it is and then some. The dropping feeling in your stomach only lasts a few seconds and then its just a lot of wind in your face. My instructor told me that the cheapest skydiving in the world is in "a little California town called Lodi."

Next, we stayed a freezing night in Tongariro National Park, the real Land of Mordor. It was here that all of the Mordor scenes from Lord of the Rings was filmed. We went on a 19 km hike that was freezing cold and smelled of farts. No wonder only orks live there.

The campervan has been really nice. Most nights we just pull into a nice looking park to sleep. In New Zealand, it is legal to camp anywhere except places that explicitly say no camping. In other words, you can litterally pull of the side of the road and camp, which we have done. That is all for now. Enjoy the pictures.

Tom

Bubbling Mud

A nice view of Fart Park

Champagne Pool hot spring

Erin in front of a geyser

Nice river walk we found near Taupo

The water here is like a hot tub

After skydiving in Taupo

After skinnydipping in freezing water

In the land of Mordor, strange ice cystals cover the ground

In front of the real Mount Doom (aka Mt. Ngaruhoe)

Halfway through the Tongariro Crossing

Halfway through the Tongariro Crossing (turned 180 degrees)

Filming site for Lord of the Rings

Erin bundled up in her new jacket

The aptly named Blue Lake

One last view from Tongariro