I'm leaving on a jet plane... Well my time in New Zealand has finally come to an end. I'm currently at Christchurch airport, which, it has to be said is 'dead' at best. Granted its 3am at the moment, but 'departures' isn't even open. Anyway, thought I'd pop on to finalise my blogging for the past 2 months - sum it up with something poignant and meaningful. But it's really late, plus my internet time is going to run out in the next two minutes 17 seconds... so I'...

So we boarded the senior citizens day-out boat over to Stewart Island. Safe in the knowledge that, as at least 40 years younger than our nearest rival, we'd be one of the first to the life vests. The crossing was a little choppy and with slightly ominous looking clouds in the sky, I was glad we'd chosen to leave the tent on the mainland. Once again, we'd neglected to book any form of accomodation. Luckily Ann came to the rescue - taking in stray backpackers in n...

The first port of call of the road trip! We picked up our little car in Christchurch (little smaller than a Yaris, automatic - seriously, why don't I have an automatic? It's a go-kart!!) Mike negotiated the roads out of the city centre, with only one or two reminders that over here you drive on the left. Had a nice few hours travel back down south, passing a few points that we'd stopped off at on the way up. Before arriving in Bluff. To say there is nothing here...

Left Twizel to rejoin the Magic bus on the final leg of my journey to Christchurch. Had one more stop off in Lake Takapo (which I appear to be spelling wrong as this thing doesn't recognise it) but a huge aqua blue lake awaited us. Something along the lines of the water running off the nearby glacier combining with minerals making is such a beautiful colour. I don't know - google it. Went all out and had chinese - so good! Except the prawn crackers which were fr...

Penguins!! Tiny little blue penguins return to their nests each night - so for a generous contribution (...) you could watch the little fellows waddle up the beach. Think we saw about 13 in all, awkwardly plumped onto the sand as another wave carried them the final distance. Still, they recovered well, jumping to their little feet, as if aware that they had an audience of 40 gawping tourists. (Lucky for them we weren't allowed cameras). So in 2's or 3's they mad...