News from New Zealand and Fiji

Webcard from New Zealand!

Part One

We finally arrived in Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand on Monday 21st July after leaving Newcastle at 10.00am on Saturday. The journey took slightly longer than expected because of the difficulties the plane encountered in take off due to the weight of the Central High luggage (well a girl has to look good at every hour of the day!).
 
The first night was spent just about staying awake and tucking into a huge plateful of the most amazing roast beef as we looked out from the restaurant windows over the 84km expanse of Lake Waikitopou; truly a sight to behold under the bright blue sky - which was a lot better than the summer we had left behind in the UK.
 
As always on 'Acki Tours' it was destined to start with an adrenalin rush; so after a huge breakfast, (we're not going to come back thin), we set off to the Shotover River and the fastest jet boat money could buy. We screamed our way at a volume not yet heard in New Zealand down the river - skimming rocks with only a couple of inches to spare and doing 360's faster than anyone ever before till sadly the whole experience came to an end. Then we discovered we could buy it all on DVD! Much money, t-shirts and DVDs later we emerged from the shop and set off to the hotel for dry clothes. Then within minutes we were on our way to the skyline gondola 445m above the town and a Luge ride to die for. How much adrenalin can 45 girls get through in one day?!
 
After another fab dinner and breakfast -some eating at 6.00am as jetlag continues to take its toll, we set off for Cromwell College and our first matches. It was 'tipping it down' the whole way and continued to do so on arrival; so the netball girls with their beautifully straightened hair could not be expected to play outside but the hockey girls are made of sterner stuff!
 
The first netball match proved a bit of a test but there was some great play by our girls. The U15 team went on against their senior B feeling they were under pressure. But as always they rose to the challenge and secured a huge win. The U16s had a hard act to follow but in a superb game of nail biting stuff we drew 22 all. Meanwhile on the astro the hockey girls against huge opposition sank under pressure in the first 15 minutes but then 'engaged gear' to produce a more respectable score line. 

Great rapport with our opposition at the tea afterwards made for a lovely evening before we returned to the college dorms. Another fantastic dinner was followed by a team quiz designed to keep everyone awake past 9.30pm which was just about successful although one or two may have been asleep on the table!
 
8.30 am departure the next morning as we set off for Fox Glacier. A long bus journey later with lots of fantastic singing - (till the bus driver told us off) flew by with many a cry of 'VIEW' for some of the most amazing sights ever and finished at Lake Matheson. this lake is famous for its reflective qualities. We duly did the 1 1/2 hour walk around it and will no doubt bore everyone with our many photos to prove it.
 
We are now waiting for the girls to produce their dance show before another 9.30 bedtime and our helicopter trip up Fox glacier at 7.45 tomorrow morning.
 
We are having the time of our lives and can't wait to show everyone the photos, the video and of course the rapidly emerging soundtrack!
 
Watch this space for more stories and adventures!

Part 2

To continue the saga:

We woke up for an early breakfast after an evening of excitement in the dance/drama competition we held in the hotel (where everyone managed to stay awake until after 9.00pm). We couldn't really tell what the weather was like as it was still dark, but gradually the sun came up as we made our way to the helicopter pad and our flight up onto Fox Glacier. The flight up was short but incredible as we flew across the glacier and then landed in the middle of it. the guides fitted crampons on our boots and most of us managed to stay upright (evie struggled a bit with this concept). We were split into 4 groups and set off to discover the glacier. Our guide, Maria , loved caves, so within minutes we were sliding down little holes inside the glacier like huge penguins - it was so exciting. The sun soon emerged and we were all warm despite our location. Needless to say the views were absolutely stunning. I will try to send some photos from our next stop.
 
On our return from the glacier we set off on a long but beautiful coach journey from the west to the east coast across Arthur's Pass. The snow had eased off so it was a fairly easy journey, although we didn't arrive in Christchurch until 7.00pm. The hotel was fantastic and with fish and chips for tea we couldn't ask for much more; except of course another early night. All too soon we were off again on the journey to Nelson in the north of the island. Several toilet stops later we arrived only an hour late but were met by our new hosts with great enthusiasm.
 
Waimea School could not have made our stay better. All the families and hosts went out of their way to do all they could for us. They are very good at sport.....results for us weren't too good in the 6 netball and 1 hockey that we played but in terms of our learning curve we've come a long way.
We received a lovely welcome from the choir and the Principal of the school and even sang the Keel Row to them (they were very impressed!) Most of the girls spent last night watching the ANZ league netball final between the New Zealand Magic team and the Australian Swifts team. This match held in Sydney was on the news, the radio and live on several channels. it was watched by thousands live. This exposure of high level female sport, especially Netball is common in New Zealand and goes some way towards explaining the very high standard of grass roots/school netball in this country. The club and national players are heroes to the girls here. they watch them play and do their best to emulate their performances in a similar way that boys are exposed to high level football in the UK.
 
The highlight was probably the Central (with a few ringers) v Waimea staff match! New Zealand anxious not to lose brought on their 7ft tall 100 times capped New Zealand basketballer and despite Miss Penny's best efforts to climb up to intercept the ball it was never going to happen! We narrowly lost 13-15 but felt we'd done ok under the circumstances (there's a great photo to follow of Mrs Wearn standing next to him).
A 'warm , fuzzy' presentation and speeches later we all dispersed for the evening and the last night with our hosts.
 
We left there this morning and are now on the ferry from North to South Island where we will meet our next hosts, Chiltern St James. they have already re scheduled the netball indoors as there are big storms forecast on North Island.(obviously the hockey payers are made of sterner stuff!) So far we have had great weather so we are just keeping everything crossed that maybe it will pass us by.
 
 
This really is the trip of a lifetime!

Part 3

Arrived on North Island and found the rain straight away!
 
Our new hosts from Chiltern St James were waiting for us after we fought our way through the rush hour traffic and the girls quickly went there separate ways. We met again in appalling weather conditions the next morning. Inevitably the netball had been transferred indoors bur the hockey had to brave everything that the sky could throw at them.....it was very cold in the sports hall though!
Once again mixed success in the games as St Matthews also came across to make it a triangular fixture -so lots of play for all the girls.
 
Following this we travelled to a very smelly place - Rotorua where all the sulphur springs erupt as a result of geothermic activity- a geographers dream. We spent the first evening at a Maori Hangi. Phil Taylor was our chief, by virtue of being our only male! We were greeted with the Haka, whilst standing next to 40 boys from Solihull School, shame! Much hair flicking later, we sat down for our meal prepared in the traditional Maori Fashion. The food was fantastic, and the Central High Girls provided the dancing troupe for the Maori Musicians. The journey home was very exciting as we sang "She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes" whilst doing 360's round the roundabout in what we were assured was traditional fashion.
 
The following morning, after some of us emerged from our suites; we set off for the Polynesian Spa arriving before the doors opened at 8 am. The smell of rotten eggs was some what over powering but we were assured the healing properties far outweighed the foulness of the odour. Next, a visit to Te Puia, the centre of much of the geothermal activity to view the hot springs, the mud pools and geysers under the supervision of our local guide. All too soon we were back on the bus and on a 4 hour journey to Auckland.
 
Our next set of hosts were ready and waiting for us, as we arrived late once again! The girls then had a full day with their host families to visit the cultural centres (Ugg Boot Shops) of Auckland. Meanwhile the Staff enhanced their knowledge of Physical Education and International Relations by attending the New Zealand v. Australia Match at Eden Park. On the Sunday morning we met up again for matches. The results were outstanding, with the hockey teams recording their first victories 4-0 and 6-0. Netballers won 1 and lost 2, but the staff team evened the scores by winning their match. Fantastic hosts and the most welcoming staff we could hope to meet made this a great fixture and a fantastic weekend.
 
Sadly we had to pack our bags and leave for Fiji - pity! The first morning the sun shone down, the hotel was 5*, the girls lay flat and all was well with the world. The disco rocked until the early hours, and Fiji was the place to be. The next morning it was pouring with rain, blowing a gale and Fiji was not the place to be. However in stoic fashion we set off for our matches against Sigatoka Methodists College. The pitches were grass and mud and slippy! Some of the best footage ever of Netballers covered in mud can be found on the video when we return. The games were played in a lovely spirit with the Senior A setting the standard with a great victory although the B's and C's struggled against these very athletic girls.
 
Tomorrow is Beachcomber Island - now is the time to keep everything crossed for sunshine.
 
Home in a couple of days, these emails just skim the surface. This has been the trip of a lifetime