Hey all, We are well and truly ensconed down on the South Island now, again, many a waterfall has passed before our camera lenses in the last 2 weeks. Waiting for the weather to improve a bit we head east to Napier and the Hawke bay region to do some wine tasting. Just a short soujourn then back to the hills of the Tongariro National Park. Well, we are still alive after the Tongariro Crossing, despite the attempt of the "fine" weather to finish us off - over here Fine weather translates as: gale force winds, snow, hail and lots of cold. We were to climb Mount Doom also, but whilst we were at the foot of the peak we still could not even see it so that was out. Down to Wellington, stopping at the Rugby Museum on the way. We also took in a travelling circus. There were performing dogs and clowns for the kiddies (photos in the album bit), barechested strongmen in leather trousers for the ladies and poofs and Chinese contortionists for the gentlemen (photos upon request when I get home). On Easter Saturday we head over the Cook strait, campervan an all to see the South Island. We did a 24k walk around Marlborough Sounds on the Queen Charlotte Track. Then off to yet another wine region to taste the morning away. Getting drunk for free is definitely the best. Marlborough is Rachel's favourite area and they do loads of good Sav Blanc. Down the coast to Kaikoura for the famed Whale watching. We saw 2 sperm whales and some NZ fur seals. Still no signs of the albatross yet. Back up north to Abel Tasman National Park for another long walk and a boat trip up the coast. Blisters aside, the shoes are now wearing in and the weather was nice again for us. Then further north for the romantically named Pupu Springs and now we are soaking ourselves in the ever present rain that lashes the west coast of the South Island most days of the year. Again we are waiting for the weather to ease before we take on another mountain. The Franz Josef Glacier is to be our next conquest, untill then its back to eating more chocolate cake and drinking coffee, trying to take in the extra few thousand calories I'm sure we will need. Well, the cake is ready so I'm off. Hope you are all well. check out the North Island photos now added. Taraa Andy and Rachel