Yer me too!!! can't wait to jump out of those planes and off those bridges. Apparently it's the best way to see New Zealand...face first at 200km an hour I land in Christchurch on the 14th, if your in town let me know, I'm on facebook: Nippa Ekanayake.
Bench, I'm not sure man, it says this tour departs on the 15th and finishes on the 29th, so might want to double check with Contiki.