Dunedin quiz today - Question 1 :- dunedin is the gaelic name for what (Elinor ?????) Question 2 :- What kind of penguins (which are the rarest in the world no less) is the otago peninsula famous for? Question 3 :- what animal smells worse? Penguins, sealions or seals? Answers on the back of a beer mat attached to your nose. Arrived in Dunedin to book a trip out to the Otago Peninsula to see the ?$#!!% penguins and Albatrosses. A great afternoon as you go into a huge tunnel network undergrou [View Full Entry]

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Milford Sounds today and the weather was fantastic- the best its been for a long time apparently! We got picked up for our tour - Ecotours which included a trip to the Teanua Bird sanctuary where our guide (? Dutch eco enthusiast?) showed us round. This was a great tour as he tried to stay away from the other tours who were all on a set itinary. Milford Sounds was beyond belief- boasting the worlds largest cliff edge and worlds highest waterfalls. Due to the excessive amount of rain previous and the clear sunny day the views were awesome. We cruised [View Full Entry]

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Gem here, Yes okay it's beena few days since our last blog, but have been fitting so much into days and finding internet outlets that allow you to put on photos is a bit tricky. Queenstown was fab, went up the Gondola, hint don't do this if you are petrified of heights, or at least take some valium before hand, or like me close your eyes all the way up there and ask other passenger when you get to the top. Amazing views from the top, when I eventually opened my eyes long enough. Went on the luge, buggy thing down [View Full Entry]

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well weve now trecked south from Franz Josef and suprisingly the weather has turned fantastic again- As in the average rainfull is not 7 metres per year. We spent the night in Wanaka with a great view of some huge mountains. Incidentily on the way we stopped of at the amazing puzzling world which was quite frankly amazing. All the puzzles youve ever played from the rubik cube to shifting the blocks on a tile thingy (you know) while you sit and have a coffee. There were loads of illusions and holograms and not to mention an enourmous maze. (yes we [View Full Entry]

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Well WE ARE ALIVE, will explain in a moment! Okay hokitika yesterday, seeing some of the local craftmen at work on jade, known here as pounamu. Also seen a kiwi close up at the eco world there, well worth the visit even if it is just for the kiwi enclosure, the rest was a bit naff and shabby looking. A drive to Franz josef yesterday afternoon, stopping off to get lost around lake kaniere. We are currently staying at athe rainforest retreat camp site which is awesome and we are parked in the middle of rainforest. Facitlities amazing, outdorr spa and [View Full Entry]

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Hi Well we are writing from a log cabin in the town of hokitika on the west coast. Staying at a camp site right on the beach. Plane journey over here was fine, but very cloudy and so now sight seeing on the way. Landed in Christchurch and picked up the van, compact but has almost everything you could need (a few thousand dollars is missing from the glove box). Travelled from chrstchurch to punakiaki, of which neither of us has said right yet since we arrived, hence title. On the way dropped in at hanmer spring and had a most [View Full Entry]

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Arrived in Wellington this afternoon, met up with lisa for a wee bit and then off into the city centre. Staying at the YHA near courtney place(where all the action is), the hostel is clean, funky and cool. Had fab pizza for $6 (2.50), can't get better. Just having a relaxing evening and getting to know the place. Think will have to bring the girls here as it is one of the best places we have stayed and such a great location. Internet on all floors, hugeeeee kitchen and games room and video room and ............... beanbag city. So have one [View Full Entry]

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Greetings, informative blog coming, Tomorrow is the start of our serious travelling. Lots to do today, packing and organising and making sure we don't forget simple things like passports (Dave take note), lots of lists and lists of lists to tell us where we left the last lists (try saying that after a few shandys). We will be driving down to Wellington tomorrow and staying overnight and dropping the car off. On monday we fly to christchurch and pick up the campervan, we plan to stay a night there and then off we go, firstly crossing over to the west coast [View Full Entry]

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Rang the next door neighbours (Lance and Karen) today who own the surrounding farm consisting of 1400 acres. They had previously offered to take us for a day on the farm to see the sites and help out, so off we went at the crack of dawn! We came accross a sheep having difficulty lambing twins which unfortunately did not survive but thanks to a half an hour struggle by Lance (the farmer) and Gem, the mother is now doing fine (i was just taking pictures and urging encouragement from the sideline as a true guy should do!?) Fantastic experience, got [View Full Entry]

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Hi guys, Gems birthday this weekend, so we ventured down to Wellington to celebrate. A great meal followed by some cheesy dance moves was the plan and we were not dissapointed. Saturday was to say the least a recovery day in which we went up the infamous cable car for a birds eye view of Wellington followed by a short walk around the gardens. In the afternoon we frequented a beer festival where many beers were for the tasting. I tried one called twisted ankle (as a true physio should) which had the consistency of plant pot remains and tasted much [View Full Entry]

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