When you get the opportunity to eat good fresh food whilst travel you have to take it. On the way to Lake Tekapo we got the chance to stop at a salman farm. The fish looked like they were on steroids and were about 3 foot long!! So a massive piece just had to be purchased and shared beween Dann (UK), Stef (Belgium) and myself. I have to say I didn't feel the least bit sorry for other travels eating super noodles, pasta and tomato source - i man has to eat and I like eating! Afterclimbing Mt John for views of the lake and avoiding the rain it was great to have a feast.

Further on I spent a fun afternoon white water rafting grade 4 and 5 rapids on the Rangitata River through Middle Earth - Lord of the Rings Country. This was hilarious - even more so was our guide who's nickname was "Chunk" from The Goonies. (Unfortunatley he was unable to do the truffle shuffle when asked!) lol

Visiting Kaikoura and swimming with a pod of 300 wild Dusky dolphins has to be the closest I have ever come to a religious experience - that hasn't involved a woman! haha. I had heard of this tour from fellow travelers in Australia and it was better than I could have amagined. We are reminded that we are the dolphins entertainment and not the other way round. So, dressed in a wetsuit and fins I swim around singing underwater making all sorts of stupid noises in order to entertain! We all looked and sounded completely stupid but it was worth it. At one point I was swimming in circles looking into a dusky Dolphins eye and moment later there were six about 10 cm from me!. The trip was rounded off with the chance to take pictures from the boat. I even shot a little video of the dolphins as my pictures really don't do the experience any justice. Yes..it was that good!

On wards up to Nelson and the Abel Tasmin National Park, my last destination on the South Island,for long walks and kayaking. I took a boat trip and walked part of the coastline from Torrent Bay to Marahau and realised the best views were going to be from the Tasmin Bay (leading to the Tasmin Sea). It turns out the kayaking day trip was over 17 km of coastline from starting at Bark Bay (taking a water taxi via a tractor ) to Marahau so my arms finally got a good workout! Lunch at Te Pukatea Bay -picnic style was all good.

So..by this time I can't remember the last time I've actually stayed in bed past 7.30!! (Still I'm not complaining - I hear the weather in England is just as good as it always is?? LOL) Traveling to the North Island is no exception catching a bus connecting to Picton in the morning. I decided I've traveled on enough boats and ferries so I took a little 12 seater plane across the Cook Strait to Wellington. The plane just took 20 minutes compared to the ferry time of three and a half hours so it was a bit of a no brainer with great views!

Onwards to the North Island!