I need to explain, NZ is the most beautiful place I have visited and I am so pleased that I have had the opportunity to spend a good length of time here. Me and my Diahatsu Sirion had a brilliant couple of weeks travelling around the South Island, over 2000km of driving around windy mountain roads and sun drenched valleys. I decided to go alone after booking a coach trip, one day on the coach was enough for me to realise that this is an island where the best idea is to take it slow, stop and admire the beauty and chill out like the locals, so that is what I did, take it slow, live the moment, not just the memories in the future and try to appreciate the opportunity before me. Got the ferry over from Wellington and as we progressed into Picton on South Island went through the Marlborough sound, a waterway with forests and rolling hills on both sides, a great entry and introduction to the other part of NZ. Visited Abel Tasman national Park, trecked or as they say in NZ Tramped and was rewarded with good weather and great views of the indigenous forests and the ocean, stayed in Takaka, six bed dorm to myself, roaring fire and a couple of french guys, some locals and a mother with her baby, it was like being in a very cozy living room with good friends, chatting and drinking tea. Some of the trecks are only accessible from the sea and by water taxi, I took the water taxi along the coast on a gloriously clear sunny day, t-shirt only required and a bit of sun cream! Picked up my first hich hiker, really interesting german, we chatted and were knocked back by the beauty of the scenery. Moved on down to the west coast where the climate changed dramatically, suddenly torrential rain took over, heaving, deluges decended which unfortunately cancelled all chances of doing any helicopter hiking on the glaciers I had booked. Had a tentative look at the glacier from a view point as it creeped its way down the valley from the mountain above, named Franz Joseph after the ruler of the founders country at the time, very cold, very wet. Along the coast I had a couple of stops, one hostel in Punakaiki which was once again not very busy was being run by cool young Brits and Kiwis, very laid back and a really happy vibe, long term stayers just having fun, freedom and a back to nature horizon with a chilled and simple take on what happiness means and how to achieve it, Note to self, do not lose sight of this Way of life. Had a good evening watching the Lions wallozp the Wallabies at rugby in a pub where the British, the Irish and the Kiwis were all cheering for the same team, a happy together bonding experience that perhaps only sport can achieve, I watched rugby in pubs a few times and enjoyed it every time, good chat, lively atmosphere and luckily the right result each time. The journey here is as wonderful as the destinations as I drive my little car across this beautiful beautiful country, here in the south it all seems so fresh and crisp where the sun makes the snow covered mountain ranges look like picture postcard perfect. Luckily winter sunshine arrived for my last week making it very chilli and very spectacular, the gorgeous Milford sound where sheer cliff faces go up for 3000m and go down the same distance and the boat can drift alongside the cliff, the mirror lakes and of course the snow capped maintains that appear all around, every new brow of a hill brings wonderful vistas, sun drenched rolling fields with this raged vast mountain backdrop, hardly any cars on the road and towns where winter seems to pass them by, just a skeleton service being provided, perhaps a cafe being open. A few of the hostels along the way at Wanaka, Lake Tekapo and Te Anou and Queenstown all had awesome views from their communal dining rooms where I had breakfast watching the sun rise over the mountain ranges to disclose this pallet of colours onto the rock like a curtain being drawn down from the peaks to the lakes. Upon arrival at Wanaka and then Queenstown the quiet changed to busy ski resorts and extreme activity centres, the home of the bungy jump, I kept it gentle, just a helicopter landing on the Remarkables mountain range on the snow, all was below with clear views for miles and miles at 2000m and a jet powered boat trip up the Dart river, this is south island hollywood, this is where there is a constant flow of film crews using the gorgeous natural backdrop for adverts and films, including of course Lord of the Rings. South Island ended with a stop at Lake Tekapo and a climb up Mount John which has numerous research sites and telescopes as this has been identified as the best place to star gaze in the Southern Hemisphere, I went up late at night on a trip and can only agree, I have never seen stars so bright and clear, very very cold as well! Last stop was at Christchurch where Joan's sister and hubbie John very kindly put me up for a night and even better John took me to a Crusaders game with his sons Callum rugby team, the kids had a great time and so did I, another high point in this journey, Dan Carter was on brilliant form. In the morning John showed me around the resulting carnage from the earthquake that tragically hit this city a couple of years ago, a very sad sight but also one of courage and hope as the people of the city rebuild, it will take time and I am sure the results will be awesome. Back to Aukland and another great night out in town with Joan and her friends, I have to say I would not have had such a good time without the guidance, suggestions and hospitality of Joan, who knows this country so well. Finally a visit to Hobbiton, yes there really is a place, it's the film set used in the LOTR films, brilliant, even had a beer at the hobbits pub. I have spent a lot of words describing NZ and still do not think I have done it justice. It is just a wonderful place with wonderful people, I loved every minute of my time here and am sad to leave, it has captured me.