I didn't go into the department on Friday as I was going off wandering, which they were cool about. So I flicked through my lonely planet guide of NZ to find something I could do. Rik was at a loose end too so I thought we would go and visit the red rocks coastal walk which trace the south coast shoreline to Sinclair head, about 10km from the city centre. The rocks are well preserved volcanic lava formed about 200 million years ago by underwater volcanic eruptions and coloured red by iron oxide. Other stories explaining the red rocks are that it is due to the bloodstains form the Maori Demi-God's nose or others say that Kupe's daughters cut themselves in mourning having given up their father for dead. Bit of history, quite unlike me I know! We got the bus to a place called Island Bay and according to my guide which I read very briefly it was 2.5km to the start of the walk. We weren't just going to see pile of rocks by the way, there was a colony of bachelor fur seals there which settle there between May and October. So we walked and not put off by a guy telling us that we'd need a car, off we went! It didn't take us long to get to the start of the walk, or what we thought was the start! Another half an hour later and at quite a pace we saw a sign signalling the start of the walk and that it was a 3 hour return walk and that you should make sure you have good walking boots, food and water, so in my dunlops and a bowl of muesli in my tummy from breakfast ...we went hiking! Now because we hadn't coordinated the buses brilliantly it was now 4 o'clock and it gets dark just after 6 here, you do the math! Oh well wasn't going to turn back now, I wanted to see some seals! The walk followed a path beneath some mountains with the sea on the other side, it was quite a rough stone path but 4X4s were able to drive the route. There was nothing for miles except the odd house occasionally, nice views, not near a Tesco though! Finally we arrived at the red rocks, but alas no seals! We kept walking and saw a sign indicating that the seals were a bit further on, so we crossed a small river by conveniently placed stepping stones fearing that our journey back could be treacherous if the sea came in any further!! We walked over a ridge and an overpowering smell, like raw sewage emerged..... we soon learnt that this was the seals, what a stink!! We saw seals now bobbing in the water and loads were just lazing about on the rocks, we could get so close to them, we were careful because we had been warned that they may bite, but these things weren't going anywhere quickly I can tell you! They were so well camouflaged too that if you were looking particularly at one seal there were likely to be others very near it, it made you jump when you realised it wasn't a rock but a seal! They were incredible and so big, well worth the rather scenic walk. Conscious that daylight would not be with us much longer we marched back along the path, fatigue setting in. We arrived at the bus stop an hour later, it was dark now but we were near civilisation so it was ok. Absolutely exhausted we slumped on the bus unable to talk, we got home said hello to the others, then I sloped off for a little 'lie down' which turned into a 3 hour sleep, waking at 11.30pm, oops!! It was such a good day though, there's nothing like a bit of a walk with some wildlife and the elements against you to make you feel alive! Today I'm looking around the city, I still haven't got up to the other end yet, and tomorrow I'm going to watch the Rugby at Westpac stadium Wellington Vs Tasman, can't come to NZ and not see any Rugby! I hope you all are keeping well, thank you again for you messages on my board and for your emails, it's so nice to hear from you all and to see that you are doing well. I miss you all loads!!!! Lots of love and kisses x x x x x x x