Weds 5th Jan: Journey North to Waipoua Kauri Forest Drove North from Auckland via lunch time stop at Baylys Beach .our first sight of the pounding surf of the Tasman Sea as it crashes into absolutely miles of sweeping sandy beaches.We paddled and walked a little before heading on to Waipoua to camp in the national Park.The park was stunning, so remote but with a small visitors centre and room for about 12 tents and a couple of camper vans.There was a kitchen wit...

3rd - 4th Jan:Auckland Arrival and Stay Arrived lunch time and were taken for special examination by customs as we weren't part of a package trip!!!Our walking boots passed musta and we caught the airport transfer to Queens Street and our 2 night stay at Chifley Suites.It was exactly as the internet had described, a short walk to both the harbour and the Sky Tower.Lovely accommodation included 2 double bedrooms, kitchen, utility including washer/dryer and lounge...

1st Jan - 2nd Jan:Christchurch to Brunei We left home at 3.00am New Year's day, thank you Pauline and Nigel for the lift to National Express!!!!!!!Woke up in time for breakfast at Heathrow before joining our Brunei Airways flight to New Zealand via Brunei.The seats were very spacious, and the service superb, the hostesses and stewards were polite, smiling, beautifully made up and had great figures!!!!!!A taxi shuttle took us from Brunei Airport a very short dist...

Journey to San Diego On the road again on our favourite 5am National Exdpress for Heathrow. Thanks again Mike, where would we be without our door to door service eh???? Well, we learnt that getting out of the country on an American Airways flight is a pretty tricky thing, supassed only by being able to enter the US once the plane has completed it's flight...oh and getting onto the internal hopper flight from LA to San Diego even though we were already checked...

Here we are in the dark by 8pm cos we're nearer the equator...last night...end of a brilliant trip. We're off to our buy one get 2 free restaurant thisevening which means we'll have bottles of wine to give our rep here!!! Tomorrow we're being picked up at 5.15pm for our 8.15pm flight back to UK via Madrid. Get back to Christchurch at 5.30pm Sunday...hey Mike, see you at the bus station!!! Signing out for the last time x ooh noo I wasn't! ThoughtI'd note that ...