Woke up to another beautiful day in Napier (see picture )and hit the road bound for Wellington. Still not had any confirmation from tour agents what happens when we get to the South Island. Stopped off in a small town called Masterton where we ate our picnic, confirmed our ferry crossing and visited the patchwork/quilting shop. The journey was along a large plain with a range of mountains along one side in the distance. The Tree Ferns have now disappeared, but ...

Woke up to a perfect blue sky and we were able to have breakfast outside. For the first time I was able to wear sandals and a sleeveless top. We have walked around Napier all day, I don't think we missed a street. Started off along the front where we found a flea market. I managed to get some Tupperware lids which had been lost for years for 60p. The town is famous for its Art Deco but hardly challenges that of Miami Beach. It must be a special weekend as the loc...

We left Rotorua in dark grey skies but hopeful that the weather would Improve. Drove to Taupo where we found a small market. Interesting to look at but nothing to buy. We had parked by the harbour so we left the car and walked into town where we had the best coffee this holiday. The town was very nice with very wide steeets and only single storey buildings gave it a light and airy feel. We had been told to visit the Hukka Falls so as we had missed them on the w...

Forgot to mention yesterday that our route took us through lots of orchards growing avocados (avos as the locals call them) and kiwifruit. The Avo grows on a tree about the size of an apple or pear tree in the UK. KIwi is grown on a vine like grapes. Interesting fact for you all, and me too. Today the weather is brilliant so, after a great breakfast we went about 20mins out of town to a place called Wai o Tapu where we saw all the geothermal stuff. They had a g...

As we drive through the countryside, everywhere is green. Lots of forestry and it's strange that many of the trees are wild tree ferns, so it seems as if you are driving through a botanical garden. It's spring here and the cherry blossom is out, foxgloves are on the roadside and an extraordinary amount of cattle, who seem to have given birth to an extraordinary number of young. They have been separated into a different field from the older cows. Not seen that man...