Well, on the way home, yuk, it feels like it anyway, we crossed over to the North Island and are in the capitol - the Windy City of Wellington, it certainly lives up to it's name. We are pretty much chilling out for 2 days until we hit some more activities up North. Last night was our second in the city, as ever our first night was a big boozy one, it's as if we have to celebrate our arrival into each town/city?, it seems to work, a good formula and it's fun

Firstly i'll get the blog up to date. Our last activity in the South island was the Abel Tasman park. It was an early start, we had an hours drive from Nelson and had to be at the sea kayaking company for 08.00!, so why did we stop out drinking till 04.00, erm, i wonder if we have to celebrate the arrival and end of each city/town?. We only spend 2 days in each place so you get the picture. Anyway a good night, we had a big BBQ, lots of vino and good company from a crowd from Ireland & Holland.

So Abel Tasman, we took a water taxi from Marahau to Onetahuti where we hopped into our sea kayaks for a 12km journey to Anchorage. This part of the coastline is pretty spectatular, some small islands to kayak around where we saw sealions, large and small babies and the water was so clear we even saw a massive stingray. The beaches are really special, it surprised me as the water and sand knocks the spots of most of the Carribean beaches i have been to, the green lush cliffs just add to the beauty of the park. This whole coast is littered with picture postcard beaches, we park up on a beach for a bit of lunch, swimm, play some easy baech games and generally just chill for a few hours. The afternoon is all about checking out the small bays and we 'raft up' (4 kayaks together), hoist up a sail and gracefully glide into the bay. We decide to spend the night in a house boat which means we can have a few beers, a nice bottle of red and a massive BBQ, just chilling in this amazing bay, watching the sun set, talking and admiring the peace, views and tranquillity of this idylic bay. Like i've said numerous times, another slice of heaven, every nook and cranny of New Zealand is filled with a unique jaw dropping view or activity.

The next morning we take a nice easy 13km walk back to the car. It's a walk through the green hillside, walking through a path parallel with the coast so every few turns you are overlooking golden sands, jade waters and amazingly the beaches are deserted,

We spend the night in the local town,Motueka, it turns out to be a Saturday so surely somthing must be happening.We have a tip for a good night, hot mamma's, with the best pizza's in town. We try out the pizza's, fab, washed down with a good local red, excellent, then wait for the entertainment........ Well there's a few people in, the DJ starts spinning, but the music is bizarre to say the least, a bit loungy to reggae?. Martin tells me that at 6 o'clock a girl is giving him the eye, i turn round and she walks towards us and start's chatting. She seems alright....... but then her sister comes over, glasses, complete with wonky eye and teeth that austin powers would be proud of. I gulp, then they both part like curtains to reveal the other sister, 4 foot something and i swear is a character from lord of the rings. I look at Martin, we think the same, if they are sisters then i'm off in search of cinderella. Time for a sharp exit.

So here we are in Auckland, as i said, the first night was a cracker, we are stopping at the YHA, great location, big kitchen and facilities and seems to be the best place in town, still some freaky people about, just not so many as in Nelson. We cook in, the best and hottest spag bol you've ever tasted, of couse complimented by a 6 pack and 2 juicy reds. We meet up with a great crowd over dinner, Irish, Japan, US and Danes. We hit the town, chat, dance, and general fun till 04.00 again. The highlight for me was Martin walking straight into a glass window at the take away. He didn't even wince however the big fella made the shop wobble and i'm sure the locals thought it was another earthquake.

Yesterday, feeling a bit tender, we hit the sights- the cable car, botanical gardens and the superb Te Papa museum. The Te papa has free entry and has all sorts of stuff, lots interactive and a good potted history of the culture, history and art of new Zealand, you could easlily spend a day here. it's great for all ages, well recommended, a big pat on the back to the government for this inititive,

So what's left, we are off hiking tomorrow in the Tongariro national park, then heading to Rotorua for a spot of mountain biking, then to the caves of Waitomo for some black water rafting and caving. Again a cracking line up of awesome activites before heading back to Auckland for the final flight.

Will see you soon