(Something happened to my last blog it was published on the website but subscribers didn’t get emails to tell them... so if you didn’t read it go to the PREVIOUS button above this and click , then you can read it. ) 1 st November I am writing this looking back on the adventures we have had .... waking up to crisp sunny mornings with snow on the mountain tops on New Zealand’s West Coast we would set off and let Colin take us down beautiful valleys , cross narrow wooden one way bridges , marvel at the wide river valleys and stop for viewpoints. Wherever we could we would get out and do walks ...through bush , listen to the birdsong and take photos. Some of the little towns like Hari Hari were perfect stopping ... read more

3 to 6 th November Rainy grey days don‘t stop us and as the weather changed we put on our layers and boots and set off from Lake Wanaka on our way to Queenstown and I knew a nice little place for a walk. I had visited Diamond Lake last time in the sunshine having a picnic by the side of the road. This time there was a proper car park and signs for the walks and as we returned from the circuit round the lake and up the hill there were a few mini busses of tourists . (Of course we are tourists too but we are pretty snobby and like to set ourselves apart as we are doing it ourselves and we try to keep away from the crowds.) But around Queenstown that’s pretty ... read more

I would have liked to see the Tasmanian Devils but on the day when I was in Bicheno and wanted to see Devils in the Dark the tour wasn’t going ! Well that seemed to be my fate here in Tassie.... but if a tour isn’t going do it yourself became my motto . Originally I was going to do a 3 day mini bus tour of East Coast sandwiched between hospitality offered by two lovely ladies from 5W organisation. Then that tour was cancelled so nothing daunted I rented a car and set off myself and enjoyed stopping wherever I felt like it including a stop for Kate’s Farm famous berry pancakes. Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park was the target and after a long drive down the peninsula to Coles Bay the sun was ... read more

I am so glad that it was suggested I drive from Adelaide to Melbourne when I said wanted to drive the Great Ocean Road. Angela flew in from Sydney to join me and off we set in our rental car on a beautiful sunny afternoon from Adelaide airport. Over the hills and high ridges , up and down valleys we drove to reach our first stop at the Wellington Ferry Crossing of the Murray River. The accommodation at the Wellington Pub was not so pretty to look at ...facing us was a cabin which looked like a tin box with doors in it , but unlocked the door and there was a cheap and clean room. The frienfly bar staff with tattoos and purple punk rocker hairdos were perfectly nice and recommended we book if we ... read more

Having recovered from the stormy night in our cosy apartment in Esperance it was traditional ( for me on my travels ) that at I make eggy bread for breakfast ( that’s our family name for the posh version of French Toast ). Well fortified we set off to drive the Great Ocean Drive ( not Road ) taking in the Pink Lake which is not pink anyymore because of a change in water catchment levels and the bacteria in the lake and many other beaches along the Twighlight Beach road ...and you couldn’t stop oohing and aaahing at the stunning cliffs, turquoise waters and rocky outcrops. Perfect spot for a picnic lunch ...and I loved the warning sign on the beach ...not excactly encouraging ! We had been invited to spend the night at a ... read more