Nelson, New Zealand (15th Mar 2008) Hamner Springs to Nelson Driver: MarkDistance Travelled: 345.0 Km / 214.4 Miles Accumulative Distance: 3096.7 Km / 1924 Miles For the first time on our trip in the van we have the luxury of being able to take a shower in the morning and since we were up early enough we thought it would be best to make use of the facilities as we are never too sure when our next proper wash might be! After our morning indulgence it had som...

Hanmer Springs, New Zealand (14th Mar 2008) Mt Somers to Hanmer Springs Driver: KaraDistance Travelled: 272.9 Km / 169.6 Miles Accumulative Distance: 2751.7 Km / 1710.2 Miles The little alpine village of Hanmer is surrounded by mountains (which look lovely in the distance), and it is home to NZ most well known natural thermal springs on the south island. The population jumps up from around 800 permanent residents into the thousands every weekend and holid...

Mt Somers, New Zealand (13th Mar 2008) Dunedin to Mt Somers via Twizel Driver: MarkDistance Travelled: 480.1 Km / 298.4 Miles Accumulative Distance: 2478.8 Km / 1540.6 Miles After what we had planned to be an early start, we were eventually on the road taking us back north at around nine. We had a quick stop off in the town centre to use the internet and freshen up and then we were off. The drive wasn't the most eventful we have ever experienced but Kara...

Dunedin, New Zealand (11th Mar 2008) Invercargill to Dunedin via Slope Point Driver: KaraDistance Travelled: 335.0 + 37.0 Km / 208.2 + 23.0 Miles Accumulative Distance: 1998.7 Km / 1241.8 Miles Since the place we had been sleeping was quite rural and secluded there wasn't much noise to wake us up and as it was so cold outside of the bed covers, it was just too easy to keep on pressing snooze and avoiding the fate that was getting up which we didn't do unt...

Invercargill, New Zealand (9th Mar 2008) Milford Sound to Invercargill Driver: MarkDistance Travelled: 330.9 Km / 205.7 Miles Accumulative Distance: 1626.7 Km / 1011.0 Miles The drive from Milford Sound to Invercargill took us on the same road back through Te Anau but this time the weather was a lot nicer so we could really appreciate our surroundings as we weaved round the twisty roads. We passed back through Homer Tunnel and this time we could see the t...