Christchurch From Blenheim to Christchurch (with slightly sore heads after the wine-tasting) we stopped a few times. Kaikoura was supposed to be the place we got to swim with dolphins, but with boats fully booked and our budget running out, we decided to save that for another time. Did manage to fit in some seal watching along the coast and a famous West-Coast White Bait Pattie. Hanmer Springs was our next destination, for some pampering in the multiple hot sp...

Blenheim After a quick wander around the local market and town, and checking into our quaint B & B, Olde Mill in Renwick, we hopped on our bikes and set off for a day of wine-tasting/bike-riding in the famous Marlborough Winery Region. It was a very funny day, with some delicious wine and food, some progressively unpredictable bike riding and a few beers/ciders in the Cork and Keg, an English Pub! Top Day!

Wellington (again!) On the drive down to Wellington to catch our ferry back to the South Island, we managed to fit in a stop at Waitomo Glow-worm Caves, which were fantastic, totally wothwhile and spine-tingling. Best bit was floating through the caves in silence looking up and seeing thousands of tiny lights like starts shining down on us, before floating out into the sunlight on the river. It's a must-do. Also stopped at Wanganui for a dvd in the camper and P...

Hamilton New Year's Eve We'd heard Hamilton had a thriving night-life, with lots of bars/clubs etc, so made our way here for NYear. What we found was that all the young people in New Zealand tend to head for house parties on the coast at New Year, so it was a real task to find a bar area where the average age was less than 60! We did manage it though, and ended up seeing in 2009 in style and saying good bye to an amazing 2008. Lots of fun drinking and dancing an...

Bay of Islands Started our time here at Waitangi for the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Lots of info and shows and buildings to do with the 1840 treaty to establish British link to NZ. Very Interesting and a great way to find out more about NZ history. Then we met up with Linda and Keith, who Zoe had worked with briefly in Aus. They have a fantastic house in Kerikeri overlooking the river leading into the bay (and their boat!) We went for a walk to 27m Rainbow Falls ...