Gazman's 3 favourite places in NZ

Yeah, OK, it's a slightly misleading blog as it was all good and if we had our way, we'd stay a lot longer and actually a top 10 of places probably wouldn't be enough either!

1. Fox Glacier

2. Wai-O-Tapu

3. Tongariro Crossing

3 of da_tonester's favourite things to do in NZ

1. Hike the Tongariro Crossing

2. Cruise around the Milford Sound

3. Eat Glacier mints freshly mined from the Fox Glacier (well, ok, maybe not... But hiking round the Fox Glacier in crampons definitely!

New Zealand normality

3 things in New Zealand so far:

1. Tongariro Crossing - great day hike, amazing landscapes and a knackering climb up something called the Devil's Staircase.

Photo: Top of Devil's Staircase looking towards Mt Ngarauahoe (probably spelt that wrong). Apparently used for the close-ups on Mount Doom. Model: Pol

Photo: Red Crater Models: Gazman, Da_Tonester

Photo: Red Crater - picture for hanging on Da_Tonester's toilet door. Model: Da_Tonester

Photo: The Emerald Lakes. Model: Da_Tonester

Photo: Looking out across to the end of the hike. Models: Pol, Gazman, Da_Tonester

2. Why-Oh Wai-O-Tapu - geysers and sulphurous lakes - you don't get this kind of thing in the UK! Photo: Lady Knox Geezer (no, sorry, Geyser) in Wai-O-Tapu - before it's been 'induced' using washing powder. Photo: Gazman, Da_Tonester

Photo: Sign says it all really. Chemistry applied to the tourist industry! Model: Da_Tonester and tourists

Photo: The Devil's Bathtub (apparently). Model: Da_Tonester

Photo: "No Fear" Models: Da_Tonester and Gazman. Showing 'no fear' as they look at the inferno crater.

3. Zorbing - rolling down a hill in an inflatable ball. Haven't laughed so much all holiday! If you've wondered what it would feel like to be a shirt inside a washing machine (though probably of more interest might be as a sock as you could then find out where all those missing socks end up), then go for a 'hydrozorb' experience.

Photo: Man zorbing down hill Model: Zorbonaut / nutter :-)

Photo: Zorb at end of 'the run' Model: dizzy, happy, disorientated very wet zorbonaut

Gazman, Da_Tonester and I did get dressed up - you'll no doubt be able to see a picture on Gazman's blog. however, no pictures exist of the run we did (3 of us in a zorb with the hydrozorb experience)