Day 22 Wednesday Today’s journey is from Fox Glacier to Wanaka. This route takes us up and over the Southern Alps through the celebrated Haast Pass, then down by the side of a couple of lakes. Firstly along the coast to Haast. There we stopped at an information centre and filled up with petrol (just in case). There was a stall in the car park that was selling Whitebait patties – the local speciality. The whitebait is not the same species as ours, it is much smaller and thinner, but the patties were delicious. The route from Haast is spectacular and should be on everybody’s list of “must do’s”. The climb into the mountains follows the Haast river – a wide (braided) river that follows a wide U-shaped valley. We slowly climbed with the mountains a ... read more

Day 20 Monday Up and away by 9.30 so we can stop in Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks. The view was well worth it, the constant roar, the way the power of the waves has sculptured the rocks and the coastline was incredible. We stayed there for ages mesmerised. Mike. For the geologically minded, the pancake rocks have alternating layers of hard and soft sedimentary rock. They are being rapidly eroded by the constant pounding from the Tasman Sea Holes and fissures have formed and the sea forces its way through these Eventually back on the road to Arthur’s Pass...but first, that petrol. The petrol light was flashing as we drove into north Greymouth and found the Shell sign. No need to panic! Deb’s dad would have been proud. When we looked at the bit ... read more

Day 17 Friday Exercise today – a boat trip up the coast in the Abel Tasman park then a 8km. walk before the boat picks us up. No jetties – the boat grounds on the beach! The walk was terrific – a bit hilly, wending its way through unspoilt forest on the water’s edge. But half way along, we came to a suspended bridge over a ravine......... Deb – aaaaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!. It was like crossing the Grand Canyon on a rope bridge. There were 2 young girls ahead of us MAKING IT SWAY! We waited till they went and then Mike went ahead of me - but not too far. I did get across cos there was no option but we don’t have a photo cos I wouldn’t let Mike get further than grabbing distance – if ... read more

Day 14 Tuesday Goodbye Napier! Long but uneventful drive today from Napier to Wellington – a distance of about 320km. Most of it was straight and flat until the last bit which was another Mount Everest and guess whose turn it was to be driving????!!!!!!!! Still I preferred watching the road and Mike enjoyed the apparently breath-taking scenery so it was probably for the best. It got a bit stressy when we got to Wellington cos we found the hotel easily enough but it was a street like Oxford Street – absolutely no where to pull over. It took us another circuit of the city to park behind the hotel and get some advice. Photo of last night’s food (for Oli’s benefit) and wine (read the label) attached but no photos today so you’ll have to ... read more

Day 12 Sunday Up and off on the road again. Heading for Napier but stopped on the way at Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. A 3 km walk around natural bubbling pools of mud and water. The colours ranged from yellow and green (sulphur) red (ferrous) to purple (manganese). The steam coming off the pools was at times quite suffocating. Arrived at Napier at about 4.30pm and booked into our apartment which includes a kitchenette with washing machine and tumble dryer– joy! We’ve been away 12 days and we were running out of clothes. 3 loads later and we found a great little Turkish cafe to have a meal. I am writing this at 8.45 and I’m ready for bed – how sad is that?! ... read more