New Zealand: South Island (Abel Tasman, Marlborough wine region, Kaikoura, Greymouth, Franz Josef Glacier, Wanaka, Milford Sound, The Catlins, Oamaru, Mount Cook, Christchurch)

Our journey around the South Island has been one spectacular event or vista after another. Some of the real highlights involved getting up close and personal with the wildlife. Sascha went swimming with about four hundred dusky dolphins at Kaikoura, they were so close that you could look into their eyes, and even watching from the boat was amazing. The water was bloody cold though, even with a wetsuit! At The Catlins we watched a handful of yellow-eyed penguins make their way up the beach to feed their young in their nests, but we saw about 150 blue penguins (the world's smallest at just 10 inches tall) at Oamaru where they've constructed a special viewing gallery by the colony. It was truly amazing to watch them waddle their way up the beach.

As for the scenery, as well as some stunning drives through snow-capped mountain ranges, past bright blue lakes, and along coastal routes, we spent a couple of hours climbing Franz Josef glacier and also took boat trips into Milford Sound and Abel Tasman national park. Although we had a lot of rain, we were incredibly lucky that whenever it mattered the clouds lifted and we got spectacular views.

It was also good to see where our favourite wine - Sauvignon Blanc - is grown in Marlborough, and taste some of course. And after lots of self-catering in hostel kitchens, we treated ourselves to a nice meal in Christchurch to round off what has been the best four-week road trip you can imagine.

Next stop, Oz!