Greetings from lovely Sumner! We had originally planned to pick up our campervan on Monday this week, but delayed it a few days to enjoy Christchurch. Once again, we've been incredibly fortunate to find a wonderful host family...Jeni and her kids, Tom & Isabella who are 15 and 13 respectively. They're a lovely and welcoming family and we've been having a great time with them. Their home is in what has got to be one of the prettiest suburbs of Christchurch...

Today was our last full day, (for now), in Kurow. We enjoyed again what has become our daily routine. Getting up around 8am, getting dressed, having tea or a 'flat white' then cereal, toast or whatever. (A 'flat white' is what the Kiwi's call their coffee because of how they make it. Sort of a cross between a capuccino and a regular coffee. It's very good!!) Steve & Fenella's children go off to school...we have another tea/coffee and then get out to th...

Here we are in the Waitaki region of New Zealand and the photo on the cover of this blog is the view outside our bedroom window. Of course it changes somewhat as the light of the day changes...but it always beautiful. Sometimes it reminds me of the mountains in Palm Springs. Anyway, here we are at the Sublime Wines vineyard staying with Steve & Fenella and their children Madeleine and Cassidayhe. The dogs, the chickens, the horse and whatever else happens...

Hello again! Sorry for the lengthy silence but we'e been out of internet contact and on the move again. So much to catch up on...all good!! After leaving Maggie's in Masterton we took the ferry from Wellington over to Picton. Our crossing was smooth but cloudy & raining much of the journey so the scenery wasn't as dramatic as it might have been. Still beautiful, though! Upon arriving in Picton, we were met by our next Helpx hosts, Lyn & Trevor. The...

Good morning, It's Sunday morning here and we had a nice lie in. As we were making breakfast we heard about the earthquake in Chile and the possible Tsunami's in/around the Pacific basin...including New Zealand. I wanted to let you know we're fine and quite far from the coast. In fact, the sea is over an hours drive away and on the other side on some very big hills/small mountains. I hope any of our friends & family who may be travelling are also safe! ...