For a small country New Zealand certainly does things big, and so it was no surprise to arrive in the town of Taupo and come across a lake the size of Singapore. The only development on this huge expanse was a floating golf green called 'Hole in one challenge' which we gave a miss en route to the Huka Falls. We had been enticed by the many hot springs the north island had to offer but not by the prices that were charged to enjoy them. So it was with great pleasure that, after a nice walk along the banks of the fast flowing river to Huka Falls, we steamed our bodies under natural, free hot springs that flowed by the cold river. Perfect. Having skipped the Tongariro National Park on the way up due ... read more

The sun was making its daily descent over house speckled hills that encompass the city, as we sat high on Mount Victoria with a bird's eye view of prescedings, the softening light offering a chance to reflect on our surrounds. The panorama stretched across the Cook Strait from whence we had come only days before. Aboard the InterIslander ferry, we had seen the faint hues of the sun at the beginning of it's cycle paint the jagged, curving inlets of the Marlborough Sounds a swathe of reds and purples. Reaching the glare of the open sea our eyes fell closed in anticipation of a new island. Nestled in the heart of a glorious harbour, Wellington is on the battered sea fringes of the world but equally at the centre of it too. The South had blessed ... read more

The drive along the west coast of New Zealand's south island, from Greymouth to Westport is said to be one of the most scenic in the world. The road teeters along the edge of the cliff by the thundering Tasman Sea for miles on end and truly lives up to it's billing. After a rainy night we took the first opportunity to stop at a scenic lookout, high above the sea, to air our damp tent. In fact we aired everything including towels and knickers as well as cooking an Asian inspired breakfast of fried eggs on onion fried rice. The sight of a blue tent, red knickers and rice for breakfast lead to an English couple striking up conversation with us. They were anxious to know if we had camped so precariously on the cliff ... read more

New Zealand is a place where you are never very far from a scenic wonderland. A right turn here, a wrong turn there, will inevitably lead you to something interesting. It was with this relaxed approach that we tooted north from Invercargail to Te Anau, at the start of Fiordland National Park and home to the renknowned Milford Sound. When renting our 'Jucy' car, the deal had been ripened by a 'two for one' offer they had going for a boat trip on the sound. We checked into Te Anau headquarters and booked our Milford cruise for the next day, praying for sunny skies. Like most things in this country, it is all about the journey. Whether your driving, hiking, padddling or biking, simply going from A to B is not an option. The Milford Road ... read more

From the Banks Peninsular we veered inland towards the brilliant turquoise, Lake Tekapo. Driving across a highland plateau, similar to those we experienced in China, heightened the anticipation as we glimpsed the milky blue expanse of water, given it's colour through sediment created when the lake's basin was gouged out by an advancing glacier. With the sun beaming down and refracting the lake's sediment filled water, our eyes could barely cope. The camera was working overtime as we rolled into town and admired the diminutive, old Church of the Good Shepherd that sat on the lakeside. The old stone building is admired by many and used as a wedding photography spot by all the rest. It was a beautifully hot day, the blue sky matching the lake, in our alpine surounds. Green contoured hills circled us ... read more