We got up at around 10.30am after a bad night's sleep in the wind and rain, and went to the Ngarua caves for the 11am guided tour. We had to wear hard hats for the tour, it was only about half an hour long but quite interesting.

After the tour we tidied the campervan and set off on our longest journey yet to Franz Josef. It took about eight and a half hours in the end, which isn't bad going. Hannah, Vicky and I only had to drive for less than three hours each. Unfortunately on the way, Vicky misjudged a corner as she drove onto a single lane bridge, and smashed the left hand wing mirror. I think she forgot how big the van is and therefore didn't swing out enough to take the corner - I can imagine it happens a lot when people hire these big things when they're used to driving cars. Still, it's only a wing mirror and luckily we paid extra on our insurance so that we don't have to pay any excess in the event of an accident, so hopefully it won't cost anything to get it fixed.

We parked up opposite a campsite in Franz Josef on a road with some other freedom campers on it, and had pasta for dinner. I am shattered from a lack of sleep last night, so I am in bed, as is Hannah. The two single ladies, Sophie and Vicky, have headed across the road to a bar for a few drinks (and to check out the local talent, no doubt!)....oh and as I wrote that they've just arrived back - the bar was for campsite patrons only. Bad times.

xxx