We have spent the last four days with Richard, Araminta, Kaidyn and Jehd in Melbourne. On the day that we arrived we sat in the airport for ages waiting for our transport to arrive...Ha Ha....Araminta didn't know what we looked like and we didn't know what she looked like and she didn't want to hold up a naff sign with our names on so needless to say it took a while for us to meet up. We settled into our movie star mansion quite comfortably. On the...

We had a lovely time in Kaikoura - visited their Winery and had a tour around the cellars and did some tastings (not like us), it was right on the top of a hill overlooking the bay - very picturesque. Drove to Christchurch 3 days ago and handed the van back and checked into the hostel. It hasn't stopped raining for the whole time we have been in Christchurch. We have been holed up in the hostel eating pizza and drinking beer for most of the time, which is...

We drove to Hanmer Prings a couple of days ago, via Lake Tekapo which was a lovely blue lake with the Church of the Good Shepherd on its edge. Spent yesterday relaxing in the hot springs which was great - just what we needed after rainy mount cook. Had pie and chips as a treat for tea. Drove onto Kaikoura today for a couple of days. Saw some more seals on the side of the road relaxing in the sunshine.

We drove to mount Cook yesteday - stayed at the worst campsite ever, and it chucked it down with rain all day. We headed up to the mountain today in a hope to get a view of it, but it was still raining. So no views of mount cook for us...boooo...

We left Blenheim to drive across to the west coast (Westport)and visited a seal colony at Cape Foulwind, which was a good name for it as it absolutely stank. The seals were cute thought they had their pups with them. We then drove to Punakaiki and walked around the Pancake Rocks which as huge rocks made of loads of layers (hence the name pancake), water shoots up through the blow holes at high tide. Stayed at Hokitika on the evening and went for a walk alo...