By the time we arrived in Christchurch after driving from Kaikoura it was almost evening. We checked in at our B&B which was lovely, very nicely decorated like shabby chic but more luxurious. We went for a short walk around the local area and grabbed some dinner. The next day we had planned to go in the city centre which was a bit daunting as we didn't know what to expect after the earthquake. 80% of the buildings in the centre had either been destroyed or n...

On the way to Kaikoura we stopped at Yealands vineyard, world famous for their organic wines. The grounds were enormous and stunning - the vines went all the way up to the coastal cliffs and there chickens and sheep roaming free! Very unique as a winery. Further along our journey to Kaikoura we stopped at Ohau Falls where seal pups are frequently seen. We were in luck and there was two young ones playing and swimming in the water. They are such gorgeous animals. ...

We had to get up super early in the morning to catch the first ferry across to South Island. It was a few hours crossing but thankfully the weather was a lot calmer than it had been in Windy Wellington (it's local nickname!). We upgraded to the VIP suite where we got a full breakfast and sofas to relax on so it was quite a pleasant journey. There were some stunning views especially as we approached the port in Picton. Once off the ferry, we picked up the car and ...

We had a very early start from Napier to Wellington as it was a long drive. The weather was miserable and the winds were ridiculously strong! We were battling with the car whilst driving and made even more difficult by the windy roads through the valleys. We were very thankful when we arrived in one piece! We arrived much later than planned due to the poor weather conditions so didn't have too much time in the afternoon to explore. So we ended up wandering the CB...

Napier is famous as an Art Deco town and does it look cool or what! You feel like you've been transported back in time. After a severe earthquake in the 1930s they had to rebuild most of the town and that's what it looks like today. It's fairly spread out but the centre is small and quaint. Once we arrived we had a wander around, admiring the buiongs and the ocean views. We decided to go to Mission Estate, one of the oldest vineyards in Hawkes Bay. We did some wi...