Bad shoulders,fresh fish, and 12,000ft of air!!

Ok so after we left Taupo we went to a place called 'Whanganui Bay', this place is taken from a dream!! Its Maori land and very secluded not many people get down there , probably because of the insane road you have to go down, it was like a death trap!!! but the Maori's assured us that, that was actually a good road and that the last one was worse!!!! Lucky we had Charlotte. So we got permission to stay and climb there and set up camp, alls going well. We headed out for the climbing the next morning only about a 5-6min walk away through a cool tomb raider style jungle. We done afew climbs that day it was mainly on trad (no bolts) so took us longer to do the climbs but all was good. We then headed back and some kind fishermen gave us a fresh fish they had just caught only we'd already eaten so had that for brekkie, damn that was a killer breakfast!!
Next day we broke out for the climbing again, but with dissaster, on the first climb nic lead he got himself in a really awkward position and screwed his shoulder up, he thinks he has sprained a muscle so lots of rest and no more climbing for him for awhile (bummer). But there was a plus side to that day, after we done that shoulder busting climb we set up a fixed rope on a relly hard climb next to it so i could try and work it, and in the end i did!!! I done it a couple of times then went for the lead I was well shaky but i done it clean, man i was so happy with that!!! that was the hardest climb iv ever done (7a).
Anyways the rest of the week we just chilled out, going for swims in the lake and soakin up the rays. We met a really friendly Maori guy called Mike who is one of the nicest guys we have ever met, he told us lots about the Maori history and culture, really amazing stuff.
And so the end of that week came and we drove up back up to Taupo to complete one of our main missions of the trip; to do a skydive. WHOOOOOOOAH what a rush its just absolutly amazing the feeling is well undescribable, just whooooa thats all i can say. We done it from 12,000ft and all went well.
Well untill the next time take it cheesy every body........

one of the many gorgeous moons shining down on us

Theres the climbing, the huge crak is called 'Tibia' ,Mike once told us back in the day a women with leporisy was exhiled to the cave and was fed via buckets being dropped down. If you climb this one you will come across her bones!!!!

'Whanganui Bay' A view from the climbing

My tribute to Dahli, unfortunatly wasnt hot enough to melt a clock

Nic,me and Mike

This waterfall was only a 3-4 min walk away from us it was so powerfull!

12,000ft up now about to jump WHOOOOOOOOOOOAH

Hard climbing and candle wax, part 1

Finally after about 2 hours of puttin these photos up i can now tell you guys what we have been up to......So after loads of 'random stops and searches' at the various airports we went to we finally got to Auckland. Not bad for a city as far as cities go, we didnt hang around for long, as soon as we got our packs in a hostil we went searchin for a van. Luck was on our side as there was a car market right near our hostil, so we checked it out and found the one; 'Charlotte' shes an absolute monster, 4WD and geared up with all the camping supplies we needed, even a kitchen haha!!!

So we set off, down to a crag called 'Karanhake Gorge' we hunted and hunted but true to form we couldnt find the sodding climbing. But we did however find a sweet campsite right by the side of a river in little forestry location, and it was free - happy days!! We met some Kiwi guys who invited us over to their camp for beers and smokes, they were really good guys we spent a couple of nights with them then set off again.

This time we did find the climbing!!!! Wharepapa South (all the w's seem to be pronounced as f's) where we set up camp and wondered off down to the local boulder field for a little taster session, and man is this rock unfriendly to the fingers i got skinned!!! next day we went to a crag nearby called Frogget Edge where we done some good routes about 6 climbs. Next area was Smiths rock where we done a seriosly hard route which was a 22- thats pretty hard, especially only climbing for 1 day prior.Then a well deserved rest day, we decided on a beach about an hours drive away called Raglan, well popular with the surfers, but we really showed them guys up with our boogie board! after a nice 'frying the skin' session we headed back to camp, where we met another climber. His name was Wes from San Diago, California- what an awsome chap. We all went out climbing to Wiappa, and inevitably got lost in the jungle like forest below the climbs we must of walked a good 3/4's of an hour before we actually started climbing. 'Sun dried tomatoes' was the flavour of the day, a sweet 22 climb which relied mostly on balance and a strong head.That was our second climb then -sods law the heavens opened man did it pour down we got drenched but luckily escaped, and then back to camp. We all had a monstrous meal then played a few games of cards, and the main attraction of the evening was watching the candle wax drip off the table forming absolutly incredible staligtites which at one point even touched the ground!!!!that was the most entertaining wax we have ever come across.

Another drive then took place down to 'Whakapapa village' located right near where they filmed mt Doom from LOrd of the Rings.Next morning we woke up early at around 6:30 to catch a 7am shuttle bus to the start of a 17k trek acroos the terrain, what an awsome walk, starting off with a rocky incline up to the base of Mt Doom, which we then done a side trip to get to the top but due to harsh weather conditions we had to back down, at this point we met up with a cool swiss chick called Olivia who walked with us the rest of the way. We went through a long barron plain and then up some more fairly steep ridges to gain the highest point of the walk (1900m above sea level) then sweeping down to some sulphur lakes, onto another long plain these areas looked like the sets of Mordor. Up another ridge then onto the hot springs, with a sweet aromatic smell of sulphur (nice), and to finish off we went through a seemingly endless jungley bit with a sweeping river running beside it, finally reaching the end. Jesus did we hurt after that but it was worth every second of it.

Today we drove away from that camp and are now at Lake Taupo. Will update soonish now off for a weeks climbing nearby, take care all seeya!!!!

our first stop from Auckland; 'Karanhake Gorge'- Dickie flats campsite
me 'chillin' by the fire at 'karanhake gorge'
the boulder field, wow!!

Nic cruising one of the boulders at the near by boulder field, SWEEEEEET!
'Charlotte' in all her kitchen glory. this is where we camped at 'Wharepapa South'.

Raglan beach, perfect for just chillin and gettin seriously fried by the sun!!!!

nics been peeling some keepers!!!

So which way do we go now then guys?

nic and wes doing a true ray mears style jungle trek, lost once again...

hard climbing and candle wax, part 2

nic on 'sun dried tomatoes' a sketchy run out, graded 22 (6c- pretty hard). How many falls did you take on this wes?!
the monster!!! this climb was sweet as! titled 'monster piece theatre' started in the corner up the slab then on to a small but shaky over hang but with nice jugs, then on to the face (which is where i am) which consisted of small pockets but were well good as long as you could find them!!!
nic and wes at the bottom of 'sundried tomatoes'
whoops done a couple of extras here

Mordor!! this was near the start of our killer 17k trek
totally trashed and not even half way!!! mount doom is in the background covered in cloud
some of the volcanic formations we walked past
this ones on the piss, but where the smoke is thats at the top of one of the hot springs.

one of the many sweet sunsets, this was where we camped at whakepapa village