Day 6
Having been reliably informed the weather would be great on New Years Eve we plumbed for a morning of Kayaking - to Pigeon Island. So at 8am we were collected by a young guy called Sam who escorted us to the island. It was a peaceful and enjoyable way to experience the great lake, and Sam took us on an hour trap of the island, explaining about the flora and forna, mixed with a few Maori stories. Hot orange juice and cake on the beach before we paddled back. Loved it! And the weather broke to be an amazingly warm and sunny day.

After a lunch on the beach at Queenstown - which is rammed with people waiting to celebrate NY, and being bitten by a couple of evil sand flys we head back to the ranch to pack (I am quickly disliking this packing and unpacking lark!!).

Across the road from the motel we have booked NY dinner at Gantleys - a top restaurant - which was amazing. Much food and wine was consumed. Again post much exercise and fresh air (and the food and wine) I was asleep and dead to the world by 10.30pm - we both missed NY completely!!

If you want to hear a good yarn when we get back remind me to tell about the Greymouth/Greytown c*** up! I say no more!


Day 7
Up at the crack of farts again to drive to Greymouth - all 7 hours of the drive. The motel is grim but bearable - and the area is pretty lacking. We grabbed a quick look at the beach - which is empty - decided to have a fish and chip supper - we we eat on the beach - and then crashed out!

Day 8
After a leisurely lie in we poottle up to Punakaiki to see the Pancake rocks - we are pretty impressive to say the least - the sun is shining and the views are magnificent. We then moved up the coast to Cape Foulwind to a local tip off for lunch the Bay House - its an old bach over looking the beach - so the views were tremendous! Eating seafood chowder watching the boys surf! How awful!

Then back to the ranch - passing numerous beaches all of which are empty! Tomorrow its onto Nelson area!