Time to say goodbye to Queenstown. The weather has been absolutely stunning during our 3 days here, hot and sunny with clear blue skies, nothing short of glorious! Today dawns a little less exciting with grey skies and a chill wind. After packing up the car we had one last breakfast in the delightful Eichardt's bar before setting off on our journey through the mountains to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Just a short distance down the road we made our first sto...

Up early today, quick breakfast and trying not to feel nervous as we went to check in for our white water rafting trip on the 4/5 grade Shotover River. With an ominous S for Shotover written on our hands to send us in the right direction we boarded the minibus for the short ride to the rafting centre where we were kitted out with all the necessary gear: wetsuits, jackets and boots, life-jackets and helmets. Back on board the minibus, pulling the trailer with the ...

Up early and delicious eggs benedict in the Eichardt's Bar before driving to Arthur's Point for a Jet Boat ride on the Shotover River. We were kitted out with big waterproof capes and life-jackets before we climbed aboard and Simon and I sat up front with the driver. The next 30 minutes tooks us on a thrilling and exhilerating roller coaster ride at breakneck speed along the river taking us again and again within inches of the rocks along the gorge and including ...

We had to be up very early, if not bright, for our flight back to Invercargill. The weather was very hot and sunny as we left Stewart Island but as we descended into Invercargill it was grey and chilly looking, like another world. We returned to the car and had a short ride around Invercargill to see the sights before moving on. Not all that many sights to see but we saw the pyramid shaped museum which is currently showing the Romans, and the impressive Queens Pa...

After such a busy day we slept like the dead but were up in time for a good breakfast of cereal, fruit and toast along with the other guests in the lodge dining room. We especially enjoyed a good helping of those beautiful Black Doris plums which we find wherever we go in New Zealand. There is a fantastic view from the lodge out over Half Moon Bay and we, and other guests, enjoyed watching dolphins playing in the water below as well as all the different species o...