Simon:Before I get to Fiji a quick word on Auckland. There's very little to do unless you go to the Islands so we went to the museum and what a surprise, it was excellent with a very good summary of the Maori history including a dance that seemed to me to be a cross between strictly come dancing and a rugby match with the all blacks.To Fiji and on arrival it is evident to see this is a third world country. The airport is being rebuilt after last years cyclone and...

Simon: Missing me blog readers? Well New Zealand has many virtues but sometimes wifi is a little difficult to get or too just expensive.From Franz Josef we travelled via Lewis Pass to Kaikora on the west coast. Now on this long day of some 500 Kms, I know it does not sound very far but in a campervan believe you me it takes an age, we were running very short on fuel and with 100 km to go we had two options namely a main road or the alpine way. My not so trusty n...

Simon: Another new country awaits us after an excellent flight on Emirates who really know how to look after you . Arrival into NZ is a troublesome affair with customs taking an age and everybody's luggage being x ray'ed , luckily we were not selected for the full body search , yes some 30% of passengers were .After a night in the excellent Peppers resort near the Christchurch airport we went to collect our Mighty campervan. A word on campervans in NZ , they ar...

Simon: Today we left Sydney a driving day which reminded one of good old England with driving rain for some 260 Kms of our journey. Still we arrived at the Hunters Valley wine growing area to stay in the very nice Hermitage Lodge. We immediately, at the insistence of you know who , had to visit every winery within striking distance . Luckily we could walk to a number that afternoon and proceeded to taste to excess . Area is known for its Shiraz which as you woul...

We have just returned from a week tour of the reef which was very luxurious - lots of good food and fantastic snorkelling. No internet.We only have a brief transition before flying to Bloomfield (have a look on the internet) I'm now in the airport I think we will have time to do a [proper] blog in Bloomfield - no phone or internet and send it when we come back. We will be off to Zealand when we come back form Bloomfields in about 7 days