Drove from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo and found the most beautiful place to stay on the lake. Hired mountain bikes and rode round the lake then sat drinking beer and wine in front of the lake. In the evening you could see hundreds of stars really clearly, this place is remote but lovely. You can't really capture it in a photo.

Explored Christchurch today but it is very touristy and too much like England ! Ended up in Montheiths pub where Tony tasted all of their beers in a tasting wheel. Had a lovely romantic meal in what used to be a bandstand.

Up at 6 am today to catch the ferry to Picton in the South Island. Hired a car from there and drove to Kaikoura. Hired bikes and rode to a seal colony. Andrea was so busy looking for seals that she nearly stepped on one, luckily it barked. We have a lovely photo so we'll put it on the site soon. Then had crayfish as that is what Kaikoura means. From Kaikoura drove to Christchurch, just had lovely Thai meal with Singha beer. I know we eat a lot ...

Wellington is a beautiful place but quite small, did all the married couple tourist things (like the cable car on the photo) then ended up in the Wellington Brewery where we met a bearded NZ expert, so we have slightly changed our plans now as he told us some lovely places to go where it hasn't got spoilt by tourism. Had our first ever Malaysian meal and it was delicious and really cheap.

Went to Bondi Beach today and then walked to Clovelly, stopping for a very cold dip in Bronte outdoor pool on the way. Off to NZ in morning.