Yes it us raining again! Took another couple of hr walk by Lake Te Anua befire I left this morning and drove straight to Queenstown. Took a couple of coffee stops as I was finding it difficult to concentrate. As I got closer to Queenstown I realised that I was starting to get a migraine. So found a campsite so I could take a nap. Paid my money, pulled on to my pitch then spotted a very low flying plane. I had decided to nap under the flightpath at an international airport. DON'T LAUGH, IT IS NOT FUNNY!! Any way slept for about 3hrs and feeling much better now. Migraine is probably due to all the coffee I have been drinking on the trip. I am addicted to the flat whites they serve, I have not ... read more

Just started raining again, but I am in the Scottish sounding Invercargill so I suppose it is quiet apt! Just had a very cheeky Song Thrush come into the van and rummage for crumbs on the floor. Unfortunately, it left a little present just before it flew out! Seems ages since I updated the blog. Enjoyed my time helping out at the Mahoe Reserve, I had been in touch with Sue Jarvis about this and it was liking meeting up with an old friend. Sunday night I stayed at a really quaint site at Geraldine, I had the place all to myself, which was a little spoky! It was a really nice site called The Farmyard aimed at families with young children, had a adventure and a petting zoo. I made a fuss of the donkeys ... read more

Had a fanastic drive through Arthur's Pass yesterday from west coast to east coast of the South Island As usual the drive was not for the faint hearted, it included going over a bridge one vehicle wide with a railway line running down the middle, a rock shelter built over the road to prevent vehicles being hit by falling rocks, a waterfall diverted to avoid the road. The road was so steep at one point even with my foot to floor only just managed 35km/hr. Almost forgot road was so high up my ears popped whilst I was driving. I had planned to do a walk at Aurthur's Pass Village but was put off by the fact that local info centre hired out location beaons. Thought I would be out of depth, but asked if there ... read more

It had to happen sooner or later!! Just checked emails and there was one from rental company saying I had been caught on camera speeding. Only surprise is that it did not happen sooner, found keeping to low speed limits guite difficult during the 1st couple of wks, much better now. Lets hope I don't get anymore, all speed cameras in New Zealand are hidden; very sneaky. Managed to get to the seal colony at Westport earlier today and then headed south along the west coast. Given up using satnav as distances are so huge she is not needed, occasionally she reminds me to carry straight on for another 20k. Got talking to a guy who has just lost his job working on a dairy farm; he thought it was funny when I said there are ... read more

Travelled to the South Island today. Checked in early for the ferry in Wellington so mananaged to spend an hour or so walking along the harbour. The ferry terminal is right in the centre of the city and the harbour is full of restaraunts etc. They had a market held in an underground carpark right in the city centre. The ferry journey took about 3hrs. You guys all thought I was brave but not as adventurous as a German couple I met; they were on a cycling/hiking holiday with a 6mth old baby. Completely mad is what I thought!! The ferry terminal in Picton was a bit of a contrast to Wellington, Picton is about the same size as Bardney. Staying at Bleinhiem tonight, completely surrounded by vineyards. Not sure where I am going tomorrow, that ... read more