Nelson was the next stop on our around NZ tour. Given that it is reputedly the sunniest place in New Zealand we had planned a bit of beach time for a few days before heading into the North Island so you can imagine that we were a little miffed that it wasn't blazing hot weather. So we wandered around the town, saw the river which was little more than a dribble (which suggested we had just missed the sun), walked around the shops, even contemplated watching a film before deciding on the pub to eat the best fish and chips we've had in NZ and to watch a one day cricket international. Disgustingly they later turned this off to watch a rugby match.

The next day the weather looked again iffy so we got into the van and high tailed it up the coast to Kelatari in search of some sun, but this place desite it's recommendation in Lonely Planet is in fact crap according to us. We thought about going back to Nelson, but Dame Tiri Te Kiwana was singing there that night which kind of put us off. Rhiannon made the decision to head further north to Golden Bay and an excellent decision it was too.

There isn't much to say except that it was sunny, there was a big beach and we stayed there for a couple of days relaxing, sunbathing and watching the sunset. All in all a very pleasant way to spend a couple of days. I had a moment there which summed up the place and perhaps New Zealand for me, I was listening to the radio, Rhiannon off having a shower, and they began to play "Danger Zone" from the Top Gun soundtrack. There was no apology or DJ saying that it was 80s flashback day, it was just on their regular playlist and why in fact shouldn't it be? A great song. So that's New Zealand for you, partly stuck in a time warp, but a good one.

In fact we should have spent an extra day there (if only to listen to the radio) but instead went back to Nelson only to find that the sun hadn't got to there yet (100km away). Schoolboy error again.

Forgot to mention that on the way we stopped at some caves and took a guided tour of the stalagtites and things. The cave was pretty cool, but the guide clearly couldn't be bothered with it all. " I only have two months to go until retirement" he announced as though he were Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon, but disappointingly that was as interesting as this guy got and we are yet to hear on the news that a bomb had been found under his toilet.

That's all there is to say about that, it was good fun beaching it but not much bloggable!