Another Wow factor day. Left New Plymouth early and drove down to Egmont to take the road up to Mt Taranaki. This is an amazing view- see picture. This doesn't do it justice really. I've got better ones but having trouble with space now. Went to the base of the mountain at 3100 ft, mountain rises to something like 8200. Classic mountain shape and still active but currently dormant. Used as a stand in for Fuji for one of the samurai films. Drove up the 'forgotten ...

We woke to pouring rain, very windy and temperatures as low as 15deg. Finished packing a waited for the taxi to take us to the car rental company. He was on time and took us by a strange route (remember we have driven round Wellington too and knew where we were supposed to be going). When we got there they had had a flood caused by the rain and poor plumbing. Left in a storm for Wanganui (where the photo was taken). Didn't expect much there from what we had been ...

Not much to report today. Went to cricket this morning, turgid session and then it started raining as the players came off for lunch. Thought we were going to get a restart but then it started raining again. We came back and now the ladies have gone shopping. I wonder how much this is going to cost me! Out to have a meal with some friends/relatives later. Forecast for tomorrow is very wet. Yvonne thought it would be a great opportunity to do some more shopping. J...

Drove into Christchurch this morning. Just devastating to see the destruction from 2 years ago. Picture is of the cathedral. Lots of shops missing so they have used ship containers and constructed a shopping area out of them. Really inventive. Spent a couple of hours there before handing the van back and flying back to Wellington for a couple of days. Free wifi at Christchurch airport so managed to keep up to date with the test match. Looking good so far. Weather...

A quiet day today. South Brighton is to the west of Christchurch. North Brighton is a little farther north up the coast. Both places let NZ down. Think WSM in Somerset, no donkeys on the beach here though. Was going to show you a picture of Brighton pier but decided to let you see an albatross instead. Good campsite though. Had lunch in Brighton, now enjoying a beer. Didn't want one really but we need to empty the van by tomorrow! Intend having a look round Chris...