Today is our travel day from Launceston to Sydney,with an overnight at the Mercure airport hotel, before our departure back to the UK tomorrow so I thought I would do a synopsis of the highlights and lowlights of our holiday.

New Zealand:-
Best wildlife experience
Day tour with Nature Guides Otago - despite 3.30am start to see the yellow eyed penguins this was an excellent day - seals, sea-lions, royal albatross and lots of birds. Hildegard was an excellent guide as was Richard who took us to see the penguins.
Best one day hike - there were a lot around Lake Wanaka but we really enjoyed the Newcastle track from/to Albert Town.
Best multi day hike - walking the Milford Track - an experience everyone should have but staying at lodges rather than doing it independently is the sensible way!
Most unforgettable viewing - waiting until dusk and seeing the Kiwi with Phil from Ruggedy Range at Masons Bay on Stewart island.
Best food find - the coffee and churros (long thin doughnuts) with caramel dipping sauce at Patagonia, in Wanaka.
Best buy : warm and very light merino and possum cardigans, wraps, headbands and socks.
Memories - the amazing scenery and the lupins which were out in force on the road between Wanaka and Queenstown & seeing a Kea on the Milford Track - acting naturally and not harassing tourists!
Lowlight - sand flies and not taking precautions early enough- we mistakenly thought that they couldn't be worse than Mosquitos as they don't carry malaria - but they were worse!
Tasmania:-
Best wildlife experience:
Inala on Bruny island was the most comprehensive introduction to Tasmanian life we could have wished for with excellent accommodation.
Best value wildlife experience:
The platypus tours at Latrobe were truly brilliant; to see this very unique animal was very special and worth 10 times more than the $10 each.
Best view : the views from our Marrawah beach cabin (or shack as the Australians call them) - they were just stunning.
Best gourmet dinner - the Highlander restaurant at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge
Best gourmet lunch - Hallam's at Launceston overlooking the Tamar river and Cateract gorge.
Best home cooked dinner - the Hothouse on Bruny island - the salmon melted in my mouth and the puddings were excellent.
Best walk - Springlawn trail at Narawntapau National park and seeing the forrester kangaroos (today's photo), pademelons, echidna and bird life - if you went in the evening wombats would also be around.
Unexpected highlight - the quality of the national parks - the Tasmanian Wildlife Authority do a great job - the $60 8 week pass is a must for any travellers.
The people were really friendly in both New Zealand and Tasmania and always said hello when you spoke to them....they would even ask if you needed help if they saw you struggling with a map. Driving was effortless in both locations.
Lowlights - again same for both New Zealand and Tasmania :-
Shop and restaurant opening hours are not necessarily customer centric.
Restaurants tend to open and cater for early diners 1730- 2030 - lots closed in the New Year period in Dunedin - they were taking their summer holidays - we are used to everything being open for the January sales in the UK - these didn't really start here until the 3rd January or later.
The final low point was leaving after a lovely holiday!