Arriving on the South Island via the 'InterIslander' ferry is a beautiful introduction to the more relaxed pace of life in the second half of NZ. You come through the Marlborough Sounds to get to the port of Picton. The Malborough Sounds are previously hilly areas that had been flooded thousands of years ago by the rising sea, leaving islands and waterways that are low in population and very scenic. We stayed in amongst the Sounds for our first night before heading south. You really need either a boat, or a week and a kayak, to make the most of the [View Full Entry]

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Flew into Auckland with a somewhat bumpy landing - remembering that the next plane we fly in, we may not still be on board for the landing!! My first impression of New Zealand (NZ) is that it's like Wales, but the fauna is more exotic and the coastal waters are turquoise in colour. We stayed in the city for a night, but we'll be back here for a few days before flying to Bangkok, so the next day we picked up our home for the next month and headed north. The campervan is a little older than the others and a [View Full Entry]

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We had an extremely lucky 'mistake' with our accommodation in Sydney. Whilst everywhere is charging at least $100/night with a minimum stay of 3 nights' advance booking, we've been wrongly given a room for 10 nights at only $58/night (28 pound) including New Years Eve.....that's lower than the standard charge for this room. We like to think it's all about Karma, and following our windscreen and flat tyre, we were owed some good fortune. We arrive late and just crash, and awake to Sydney in the morning, New Years Eve 2007.... After a late breakfast we buy some alcohol and food [View Full Entry]

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Christmas morning was the first morning Jake and Mia (the 2 year-old twins) had actually made their own way out of their bedroom alone without the guidance of either Jason or Lisa. The fun started at around 7:30 a.m. with the kids opening their presents. It would be a day of toys everywhere and non stop eating. We won't go in to the minor details of the day as everybody's Christmas is special to them in its own way, but the highlights included: Jake and Mia excited with all the goings on. A stocking from Santa for me and Sam (thanks [View Full Entry]

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Arrived in Adelaide and soon located our hostel which has probably been our best yet - helpful staff, clean comfortable room and a good location.....can be a struggle to find all three. Walked into the city several times and had a really nice meal one of the nights (Mitch, actually found a risotto to match yours!! How's the back?? Has it put the golf on hold for a while?). The afternoon before before we left, we caught the tram down to Glenelg; a seaside town close to Adelaide city centre - also the home of Rodney Fox Shark Adventure. (For those [View Full Entry]

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After leaving Ayers Rock I spent the best part of two hours peering down from 35,000 feet on the barren expanse that is Australia's 'outback'. As far as the eye could see, the parched red soil continued, before the view was interrupted by a layer of cloud. We broke through that cloud with half an hour of the flight left to reveal rivers, lakes and farmland surrounded by dense rainforest. We were descending into Cairns, and the Tropics...... Getting off the plane once again the humidity hit us like a bucket of water. Cairns is a resort town and we arrived [View Full Entry]

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Due to clear skies, we had a good view of both Ayers Rock and The Olgas as we flew in and banked round to land. There's a resort at Ayers Rock which means you don't have to stay and drive all the way from Alice Springs. For all you purists out there, don't worry its not built next door (you still have a 20 km drive) and this is not the USA, so it's not lit up with fairy lights at night either.....BUT, they still allow walks to the top if conditions permit?? We will not be doing this! Uluru is [View Full Entry]

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Back in Perth for 3 nights, joining Tina, Heath and Hudson for the first two, before staying in the city for the third; after which we'll be leaving the Westcoast for Ayers Rock. Arriving late into Perth, we snuck back into our 6 star accommodation (that we'd left almost 2 weeks previously) while our hosts were sleeping. Felt good to sleep in a cool room with a proper bed, instead of our mobile microwave. The following evening we were treated to my first 'Aussie barbie'. Heath cooking the prawns, steak and chicken kebabs to perfection, whilst Tina produced enough delicious food [View Full Entry]

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After 36 hours travel including three flights (gaining 9 hours to Sydney but then losing 2) we were met by Tina in Perth on the 12th of November, just before midnight. Our luxury accommodation for the following two nights was courtesy of Tina, Heath and their delightful little boy Hudson, who could well be in the running for best behaved kid in Australia. We were made very welcome in this lovely home which is perched up on higher ground 25 minutes outside Perth, with distant views of the city. A beautiful place of mainly wood and glass, that is currently being [View Full Entry]

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From Cape Town to the Eastern Cape and back again. Just over an hour and a half east of Cape Town is a place called Hermanus. One of those fortuitous finds that you're completely unaware of when choosing your main destination until (by luck or tip off) you're educated on a geographical gem. This small town, and our first stop is.....get this: THE BEST 'shore based' whale watching location IN THE WORLD!!! and it just so happens that mothers and their calves are here right into November. Since South African law prohibited the hunting of the 'Southern Right Whale' their numbers [View Full Entry]

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