We are in New Zealand!

How can I start…I can't think of the words to say that describe what we have seen already in only two days! Even the flight over to Christchurch took our breath away! As we flew in the peak of Mt Cook covered with snow just poked out perfectly through the clouds then at the end of the Southern Alps the cloud stopped abruptly revealing the Canterbury Plains in all their glory all the way to the coast, saving me a small fortune (too long a story for a blog!)

After landing in Christchurch we caught the bus into town only to be amazed by how quiet it was for a Saturday considering one third of the south island population live in Christchurch! It was blistering hot 27degrees and hotter than Sydney. We didn't manage to get the campervan design we had chosen but instead we received 'Liberty' which has a huge Barak Obama mural on the side making us feel like Yanky Doo Da's but we have re-named him Bob as we are riding with 'Yes We Can' down the side!

After spending a good hour in the local supermarket stocking up on food you can cook on a single hob (very pushed for choice) we started the journey towards Akaroa via Littleton which had a spectacular lookout, however I have the feeling we will be saying that a lot! We spent our first night camping just outside Akaroa which is a really cute little town (the only French settlement in NZ) filled with pretty houses surrounded with picket fences and flowery gardens (and a cricket green filled with furniture?!?!)

Daylight revealed a 'No Camping' sign so we swiftly got on the road…

First stop Lake Tekapo (Take-a-poo) This has to be up there with one of the most spectacular sights ever J The lake itself is a chalky aqua blue and it was so still and calm there wasn't even a ripple! I took about a million photos and then we drove to stop two…Lake Pukaki. Chris will tell you that the real highlight of this particular part of NZ was the fact that we came across a 'Driver Reviver Station' which is a brilliant community event giving free lunch, coffee fruit and cookies to drivers all just to promote keeping awake whilst on the roads! Needless to say we didn't so much as look at the lake until Chris had eaten his way though two hotdogs and a cup of coffee! (The lake is also beautiful).

From here we drove along the waters edge all the way to Mt Cook village which is a ski resort with a really cool visitor centre, which showed lots of amazing photos of amazing views we would have been able to see if it wasn't quite so cloudy!

Our second night camp spot is right by Omarama, on the Ahuriri River; yet another tiny place with nothing there except a few sheep and beautiful scenery. We are really in the middle of nowhere and it feels like we are finally getting to see all NZ has to offer, this country is amazing!

Speak soon folks,

Two very happy campers xxxx