Punakiaki is a small town on the west coast famed for its pancake rocks, stacked formations of thin layers of rock. When the tide is high and the waves have any strength blow holes shoot water into the air. Near by are several nice walks, beaches and coves. The Truman track leads down to one such cove. Many postcards of the cove are sold across the south island. The pancake rocks weren’t so impressive, we were unlucky with the weather and therefore no blow holes were active. The beach behind was really nice though. Spent the day walking with Robin and Anders. Had ice cream, but no pancakes.... read more

Nelson is a larger town just south of the Golden Bay. It¡¯s known for its excellent wine, hippys and fruit. We travelled down in Freddy¡¯s car, which he bough for less than the one I had, has taken him further and is in a lot better condition. In the hostel we stayed at we met Joe, Joe had just walked the Queen Charlotte¡¯s Track the day before us. Joe works for 7 months a year in Snowdonia and for four months is free to travel or work on his sculpture. Lucky guy, has a job he loves with time to enjoy other things in life, at least I¡¯m starting to get ideas. The big thing we did in Nelson was ¨C LORD OF THE RINGS ¨C The Two Towers. We went to see the movie two ... read more

I had phoned and booked the Jugglers Rest Backpackers a few days in advance after reading the name in the BBH guide. Sounded like a place I should visit, juggling is one of my now too many hobbies. Going across on the ferry I read in the Lonely Planet - run by professional jugglers! Going to learn some new tricks! True enough after walking across from the ferry point (note: check for free pickups next time) I walk into the yard of the Jugglers Rest and there are guys passing clubs, spinning diablos and a few guitars lying around. Nice, I felt at home straight away. Gary an English guy had come over to New Zealand as a young man, street performing, met his wife, started a juggling shop in Christchurch. He now lives with his ... read more

I decided to drive to Wellington. My car had been going nicely for about 1000 kilometres, picked a couple of hitchhikers. About 20km from Wellington the oil light flickered on, and off and on. I started looking for a petrol station to stop and check it out. The temperature was low… in fact almost on the bottom of the scale. The oil light stayed on a rattling sound started. I stopped. The engine was so hot. Waited. I had reached the edge of a town called Greytown. I waited some more. I decided to start the engine and see if I could get to the middle of the town and into a garage. The engine exploded. Smoke and steam and noise and smells overwhelmed the car. The two german girls that I had given a lift ... read more

High on the central plateua of the North Island is the Tongariro National Park. The National Park consists of three major peaks Mount Tongariro, Mount Nqauruhoe, Mount Ruapehu, given to the country by Horonuku Te Heuheu Tukino and chief of the Ngati Tuwhretoa people in 1887 - New Zealand’s first national park. In the winter the attraction is the skiing in the summer the walking, or tramping. I stayed in the National Park Village and the National Park Backpackers, a hostel with New Zealands highest climbing wall, (from sea level). Spent the first evening at the hostel climbing around on the indoor walls, the first time I have climbed and really enjoyed it. On an indoor wall the holds are all marked really clearly, but allows you to gain strength and technique in a very safe ... read more