Well, it's our last night in Auckland, and after five months exploring this fantastic country, we thought we'd better have a round up of all the best bits - take note those of you planning a visit! We have enjoyed ourselves so much here and done so many unique things, it's been unforgettable! Action and activities: *Gliding high above Lake Taupo *White water rafting on the Wairoa *Black water rafting at Waitomo *Glacier walking at Fox Glacier *Sea kayaking at Abel Tasman *A geothermal experience on the Tongariro Crossing *Stunning scenery, cruising Milford Sound *Skiing on [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 10 December We left Cambridge and followed the mighty Waikato river north along SH1 until the anal probe otherwise known as the Sky Tower came into view to herald our arrival back into Auckland. Finding our way easily back to Queen Street, we checked back into the Kiwi International and had some lunch before filling the afternoon with the internet and scouting the Backpackers' Car Market in readiness for tomorrow, although we did get some interest at the hostel itself from two Israeli girls. Monday Simon was up early to take Max over to Joshua Motors for his WOF and [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 3rd December We left our campsite and drove back down the road into Thames itself. The town apparently has the longest main street in New Zealand but we didn't bother stopping and browsing the shops as they were all closed due to it being a Sunday. Instead, we drove inland to a place called Kauaeranga as we were hoping to have a walk around an area called "The Pinnicles". We didn't find out what they were though as after 10km on a gravel road we decided to stop at another walk and make do with that one. The walk followed [View Full Entry]

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Monday We drove back into New Plymouth for a look around the Art Gallery, which had an interesting display by the local artist Michael Smithers, at least I thought so! It seems Simon and my opinions of art are at opposite poles. After this we headed north on SH3 stopping for lunch at a pretty little cove signposted as 'The Three Sisters' though we weren't sure what they were as it was high tide. Onwards through more beautiful sub-rainforest valleys back to Otorahanga, where we stopped for the first night of our 'adventure' back in September. We made a brief stop [View Full Entry]

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Mon 20th - Wed 22nd November We arrived back in the town of Tua Marina on Sunday night where we previously stayed with a Dutch family to do some wwoofing. Seeing as the food and bed had been good, as well as a nice family to chat to, we had decided to ring them up again and organise another stint of work on our way past. 12 hours of gardening each was a small price to pay to relax for a few days in the sun and have a few nights sleep out of our van. Diane's cooking was also a [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 12 November After breakfast we made a reasonably early start on our walk up the Hooker Valley after getting well kitted out in coats, hats and gloves. It certainly isn't a wonder that a third of the Mount Cook N.P. is covered by permanent snow and ice! Our first stop was the Alpine Monument, which was dotted with numerous little plaques commemorating lives lost in the area and a testament to the awesome power of nature. Speaking of which, as we recommenced the walk, we were being buffeted about by near gale force winds, although after 12 hours of rain [View Full Entry]

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Bit of a cheesy title but you'll be able to see why as the report progresses (if you can't guess already that is). I could have used Rock Bottom, Down but not out, or anything of a similar nature. Sunday 5th November Leaving our camp site we started south for what will probably be one of the last mornings of our travels here in NZ. As we've become accoustomed to recently, the journey was partaken in a veil of rain which didn't stop all day! Anyway, we made our way to the town of Bluff and weren't going to have our [View Full Entry]

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Monday 30 October (Have we really been away 4 months?) As we fell asleep again to the sound of heavy rain drops plopping onto Max's roof, we prayed that the weather gods would bring some sunshine the next day and sure enough, today was dry if extremely cool and blustery in patches. Despite conditions in Max being incomparably favourable to life in a tent (we occasionally see crazy people on bikes with tents strapped on, peddling through the murk), it makes a big difference to get him all opened up for a good airing and sweep out. We've become rather house [View Full Entry]

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Monday 23rd October After surviving the onslaught of biting sand flies at our DOC campsite in Lyell, we set off on a short walk to the old cemetery. The cemetery was in use from 1870 to 1900 (and still is I suppose by a few people) but was left to nature as the town deminished after the gold rush. There were still several graves, (including a lady from Gainsborough for all those Lincolnshire folk) some of which are now sharing their resting place with fully matured trees. Thankfully the weather had picked up from the previous day and we drove west [View Full Entry]

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Monday While everyone else at the camp site presumably got up early to catch the 3am ferry (why??) we had a leisurely breakfast and a return trip up Mt Victoria for some decent views over Wellington, since the previous two days had been so cloudy and windy. At around 11.30 we headed to the ferry terminal to check in and load up before our 1pm departure. Most of the people lined up to board were other camper vans and although Max doesn't quite match the luxory of most of the rental ones, we were glad he was converted because it made [View Full Entry]

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