Sydney to Christchurch 6 am came far too quickly! Mike and Rose were checking out later in the morning as their flight to Singapore wasn't until later in the afternoon, but they said they'd be up to say goodbye to us, which we thought was pretty nice of them; very much appreciated! And it was really hard to say goodbye to them, even though they should be home in about two months' time. It was fabulous to spend time with them and we really enjoyed their company - hopefully, they had fun too.

We'd allowed extra time at the airport so we weren't rushing, and it was just as well. We joined the inevitable queue to check in our bags but when we got to the check-in desk we apparently needed a travel itinerary from Emirates to show our flight details - basically to prove when we would be leaving New Zealand and weren't trying to sneak in permanently. We didn't have said itinerary, so had to find the Emirates Help Desk, sort that out and then head back to the queue. Where, thankfully, we didn't have to go right to the back of the queue (although we covered our options by having Iain at the back of the queue while I went back to the desk where we'd made our first attempt at checking in to see if we could take things up where we'd left off. Which we could).

Customs was our next port of call and our next brush with the wonderful warmth of the Australian people. Ha. Another queue, another wait, another desk, another form we apparently needed but no one had told us about. Whoo hoo. And all relayed to us with such friendly politeness: ha ha. Mike had commented that he and Rose hadn't found the Australians particularly friendly, and we would have to agree. I've always thought that the Australians were really affable, laid-back 'g'day mate', 'fair dinkum' people, but getting them to crack a smile is hard work (where's Crocodile Dundee these days?).

Having found the forms we needed, we completed them and asked the security / marshall / I'm-wearing-a-uniform-so-I-must-be-dead-important-type-person if we had to re-join the [now even longer] queue. That would be a 'yes'. We then suggested that it might be helpful to have a sign indicating that the form was necessary to proceed so that people wouldn't have to waste time standing in queues for nothing, but apparently it 'wasn't his fault' and 'he couldn't do anything about it', and we should have been told before we got there. We were obviously appreciative of his gracious, caring concern. Not. Even an insincere apology would have been welcome, but that doesn't seem to be a national trait. So, I did a fair bit of muttering during the queue shuffle - which could well have sparked some diplomatic incident if I'd been heard! Let's just say, I wasn't very complimentary. Although I did wonder if there's a comparable experience for foreigners arriving in Britain. I suppose I rather naively thought that Australia would be pleased to welcome any visitor to their country but, if they were, they hid it very well!

But, the flight was on time, and while we waited to board we chatted to a delightful man in the Departure Lounge, and he restored a little of our faith in Australian humanity. Mind you, he'd lived in England for a few years so that may or may not have been a contributory factor!

The flight was good, lunch was okay, although the amount of gas being emitted during the early part of the flight by some gastrically-troubled passenger was a tad traumatic for those of us in the proximity; we needed to open a window or ten! Not good. Travel etiquette can't be that difficult to grasp, surely. We found that by sniffing the customs card (yes, another one, aren't they generous?) we could offset the obnoxious aroma in the more pungent times!

So, we'll have to see if the New Zealanders are found wanting when they're weighed in the exacting Murphy balances. Certainly, the cabin crew notched up a good score for friendliness, so we'll see! Christchurch, here we come.

Mike sorted out a cracker little 'Boutique' hotel for us for one night - a deal with 25% off the normal price; go Mike! - which looks lovely. Looking forward to that. We're hiring a car at the airport and after Christchurch we're heading across the South Island to see a bit of the alpine scenery and then some of the West Coast before heading back up to Marlborough for a taste of the wine country, and then the ferry to Wellington and the final haul. We need longer!

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New Zealand gained more brownie points when we collected the rental car. Well, before that, even. We were picked up from the airport and taken to the rental area, which was a nice touch. It has to be said that the car is a rather old model but, as we'd asked for a manual drive car, and they aren't so prevalent, apparently, they probably had to check right at the back of the yard for one! It's fine. The Car Rental guy was delightful and really helpful and armed us with map books for Christchuch, New Zealand in general and Auckland, so we're sorted. (He doesn't think much of Australia either - no water, all that desert, creepy crawlies, sharks, snakes - and that's just in the sea...who'd want to live there?!!)

It was a dead easy drive to where we're staying and the place is just delightful. Well done, Mike - yet again! Just recently completed and very sumptuously decorated and furnished; it's fabulous. Pity we're only here for one night, really! And free internet; sweet.

We'll have a wander into Cathedral Square, which is the centre of the town, for dinner and a look-round, and then decide if we'll take another look tomorrow before setting off for Hokitika and the West Coast.