We left the coast and started to climb - our destination the thermal springs and ski resort of Hanmer Springs. The journey of about two hours was again through amazing countryside both mountainous and flat and temperatures had increased to a very nice 27 degrees. Some of the mountain sides were blanketed with yellow broom which is an introduced species and becoming a big problem in some areas. On the flat it was apparent that they had been suffering from a lack o...

Another early start - need to be at Whale watch station for 06.45. Fortunately we were very close and only had to go through a hole in a fence and across a railway track and we were there. After usual safety briefings etc we were transported (about 50 of us) to South Bay where we boarded Aoraki a specialist whale watching boat. The weather was amazing - bright blue sky and little wind and the captain that this was as good as it gets and they were lucky if they ha...

By 16.15 we were heading south towards Kaikora. We continued to drive alongside endless vineyards before nearing the coast where the landscape become more barren. We stopped for a break at Wharanui beach via a rough track which had black volcanic sand. As we continued we telephoned ahead and booked a site for the night and also for a whale watching trip the following morning which was our main reason for going to Kaikora. The road then followed the dramatic coas...

From Picton we headed south towards Blenheim where we needed to do. Supermarket shop but also to sample what some of the wineries in the area had to offer.We firstly went to Allan Scott winery whose wine we had enjoyed the previous evening in Wellington and bought a couple of bottles at less than a third of the price we had paid in the restaurant. We then visited Cloudy Bay, one of our favourite Sauvignon Blancs and sampled there latest vintage - just as good! Be...

An early start to get to ferry terminal to check in for The 09.00 crossing of the Cooks Strain between Wellington and Picton in the South Island. The wind had been very blustery and Sue in particular was not looking forward to the crossing however whilst it was still quite windy the larger ferry coped with it very well and we emerged on the South Island no worse for the crossing.