That morning at Punakaiki we went to see the famous Pancake Rocks and took more endless photos. The west coast is rugged and impressive and the surf pounding through these bizarre ancient rock formations was really interesting. Another long drive took us through some distinctly "Lord" type ranges and the Japanese tourist level of photography continued. On to Nelson, where we thought we were going to stay but which neither of us really liked. Not sure what to ...

A really daunting drive lay ahead us, through Arthurs Pass to the west coast but we knew the scenery was going to be so awesome we didn't mind. So to wake up to a huge, low bank of fog in Christchurch was a bit annoying! But we hit the road and it all just cleared away and we were treated to the Greatest Show on Earth! The Southern Alps run the length of the S Island and we drove straight across them, gawping in wonder. It was truly magical. Stopping to take ...

Yesterday morning we awoke to another beautifully gloriously sunny day and felt it would be rude not to do a little wine-tasting while in Marlborough. So we hired a couple of bikes from the hostel and set off in the hazy morning light. The mountains just looked stunning all around and we lazily toddled through the vineyards in our shiny blue helmets! By 10.30 we thought we should really taste some wine and that it wasn't too early. So we rode into the next av...

James and i have boozed and beached and sushi-ed and stalked Peter Jackson around Wellington this weekend and had a brill time. The weather has been unbelievable and we've lounged at Scorching Bay beach (Chocolate Fish Cafe - the best cafe in the world!) and at Oriental Bay beach in the city centre. James even took his t-shirt off and we paddled! We went to Te Papa (the museum) and went back 60,000 years in time on a simulated back in time ride - woo! Sound...

News flash Couldn't get hold of James all yesterday and started to get very worried, with visions of him and his hire car wrapped around some lamp-post (or lamb-post seeing as this is NZ). Got an email from him last night though to say he had a nightmare and was in Rotorua. Managed to leave his phone in the room in Auckland, had little sleep and a grumpy scenery-less trip into hell. Rotorua is notoriously grim and a little rough around the edges esp at night....