Day 179 and we woke up late, and seemed to just ignore the apparent check out time of 10am thinking the camp site wouldn’t be bothered if we stayed a bit longer. A bit turned into 2 hours as we spent the morning reading, blogging, sorting photos and hanging washing out in the sun to dry. Eventually we left the camp site by 12, 2 hours late. Our plan was to head south west to a town called Westport on the coast. The drive was long and all you could see most of the time were mountains and trees. For lunch we stopped in a small town where we had bacon sarnies, (Helen has been craving them for a while now). After a quick petrol stop we were on our way. The drive took us past the Buller Gorge over the Buller River and we stopped in at the Swing bridge centre to see if they had any good activities. As soon as we stepped out the camper someone noticed the sandflys and immediately the girls when back inside and changed into trousers and hoodies to avoid getting bitten. The swing bridge itself looked pretty average and we decided not to bother and to drive on. At about 6pm we reached Westport where we drove to Cape Foulwind, which as the name suggests, was very windy. Down the road we stopped at a Seal Colony where we saw loads of Seals hanging about on the rocks. The sea was really rough and choppy which made for an awesome sight. Wanting to get a bit closer, we left the track and walked down the beach where you could climb the rocks. There were several baby Seals about and Helen and I managed to see one quite close up for a good few minutes before he swam off. In Westport town we bought dinner (Blackbean Stir Fry). In the process of finding somewhere to sleep for the night we passed a hitchhiker twice, trying to avoid eye contact as we felt bad. Soon though we found a layby and had dinner. It didn’t agree with Burns for some reason, and with no toilets about he had to make do with the bushes outside which we found highly amusing.

Day 180 and yet again the start to the day was cold but clear and sunny. We headed south down the coastal road and the weather soon went bad. Along the coast there was said to be some rocks that look like pancakes with there any layers, and we stopped thinking we had found them, only to walk all the way to the end of the track and find it was just another cove. After another drive we reached the Pancake Rocks and Blowhole. There were loads of tourists which kind of took the shine off the walk and scene, but the rocks were pretty cool none the less. Though it is safe to say, they didn’t look anything like Pancakes. After 30 minutes or so, we drove south to Greymouth and had lunch in the camper (I had noodles while the others went out to buy pies!). The town didn’t have much to do so we tried heading to a lookout for a nice view, but got there and realised it was rubbish. The Library in town had free internet, and as you can imagine, we took full advantage by uploading all of our photos and replying to emails etc. After a good few hours here we did our big shop at the supermarket where we bought 5 meals worth of food for the following days. As well as this, everyone stocked up on chocolate as the craze seems to continue. In Thailand and Malaysia, we never ate chocolate... After using some public showers and sorting the campers water out we stopped in a grassy area by the main road for the night. Luke had chosen Bangers and Mash for dinner (despite Laura and Helen warning him that sausages in the small frying pan would be very difficult). During cooking he also ate a raw broccoli stalk which nearly made Helen retch. Dinner was good, although Luke vowed never to cook sausages again. The discussion over dinner was about how Luke can never wash his face before he goes to bed, as it wakes him up to much. What a load of rubbish.

Day 181 and after an uncomfortable nights sleep (as Helen rolled over in her sleep she headbutted me - this has happened several times now!) we all got up and wanted to use the free internet in the library again. Our plan was to head south down the west coast, but due to Burns and I wanting to go to a Rugby game near the end of April, we decided to spend some more time in the north. We drove East across the country towards a town called Reefton. They call Reefton 'The Town of Light'. This is because in New Zealand, Reefton was the first town to have electricity (apparently). To pass the time Burns and I talked football for a good hour or so while Luke slept (he claims he’s just resting his eyes), and Laura and Helen had a massive gossip. Lunch was Beef sarnies and we soon got back on the road. The drive took us further and further east and as we went, the weather went downhill, with us seeing rain for the first time in about a week. We reached the town of Hanmer Springs in the early afternoon. Hanmer is known for its Thermal springs which have been converted into an outdoor spa and swimming pool complex. Aside from this, town was small but had mini golf which was a bonus. Most things were closed as it was late afternoon but it didn’t stop us finding a bakery where we treated ourselves to a snack. As there was no camping allowed in the town of Hanmer we drove to a layby out of town and parked up. The weather was pretty grim so we sat inside with a hot drink and relaxed for a while. Coops passed the time by eating about 10 biscuits on her own, before we eventually realised what she was doing and managed to stop her. Dinner was lemon chicken, which was so strong in flavour it smelt and tasted like we were all eating a lemon. I don’t know how, but the talk then got on to Capital cities and we found out the girls are useless at this. Laura, a teacher, didn’t know the capital of Germany, Northern or the Republic of Ireland, or any other country it seemed. Helen was no better not knowing capital of America!

Day 182 and I woke up to the sound of rain hitting the roof of the camper (which is only a few feet above your head when you sleep in the cabin above the driver’s seat). Because of the grim weather and the coldness, know one wanted to get up so we stayed in bed until Helen got up to make us pancakes. After this we headed back into town where we parked up and went into the Springs building. It cost $14 to get in which wasn’t to bad, and they had several pools and spas of varying degrees. The coldest was about 29 Celsius, while the hottest pools (known as the cookers) were 40-41 degrees. As it was so cold anyway, getting into the pools made your body feel like it was burning. After a good hour or so trying out all the pools, we showered and headed back to the camper. The girls and Luke wanted to do a bike ride, so they went off for 2 hours riding on gravel tracks and hills. Burns and I much preferred another Mini Golf Challenge. He is adamant that he will beat me one day. I even offered him handicap to make it fairer but he refused. Our scores were 41 for me and 49 for him (par being 41). As it was so quiet, we went round again without paying. We both improved by 1 shot, 40 and 48 respectively. Back in the camper we had lunch while we waited for the others. When they got back they said they had a good time, but complained that the map was rubbish and they kept getting lost and had to ask for directions. About 3-4pm we left Hanmer and headed for Kaikoura where there is lots to do out at sea (Whale watching, swimming with dolphins etc). I slept for the drive and when I woke at 6 we had arrived. There was a place to park by the sea with lots of other camper vans. While out on a walk, Coops made a friend with a local dog and nicknamed him Scruff. She even fed him a biscuit. He hung around for a while, and then wandered off somewhere. Helen cooked us dinner, Spag Bol, an old classic, and she even put in and ate the mushrooms which I'm sure her Mum will be proud of. Helen herself is dead proud of all the new food she has been eating. The funniest moment of the day was when Luke (doing a puzzle or something) asked us, "You know the guy who played Wolverine in the X-Men movies, Gene Hackman, name some of his other films?". Once I realised that he meant, 'Hugh Jackman', not 'Gene Hackman' we couldn’t stop laughing. The film he was trying to work out that Gene Hackman had been in was 'The French Connection' we found out. I went to the public toilets before bed, and nearly got locked in by the security guard (which would have been a nightmare!) but thankfully he heard me as I yelled before he did.

Day 183 and it was literally freezing when we woke up. After a sort out of Tea and cereal, I headed to Global Gossip and phoned my Mum and Dad. After a good update on the trip, and finding out England won 2-1, the others had gone to do the laundry as it was changing beds day. A wander round town later and we had booked ourselves onto a fishing trip for tmoro and the girls and Luke were planning a dolphin or seal swim as well. For lunch I had some cheap tomato soup, and soon regretted it as it was awful. I had a beef sandwich like everyone else instead. After lunch we went to the book exchange, had a wander round the shops some more and then headed to the camper for a lazy afternoon. I had a bit of a clean out as the floor was like a beach, and then read a book and watched some Family guy on my Ipod. Everyone did something like this as it was a nice lazy day. Dinner was sweet and sour pork which was very nice, though there was loads of excess rice! We headed out after dinner to The Whaler pub for a quiz. Our team name was pretty original 'England'. It started off good, we were leading after round 2 and did a drinking challenge, which Laura let us down in (she couldn’t down a half pint quick enough!). By the end we were out of contention and the questions had got more and more obscure. It was well past our normal bed time, (about 11-12ish) and the girls looked worse for wear and wanted to go to bed. Minutes later and we were in bed and dreading a 7am start in the freezing cold.