Hi everyone,

Got the web blog working again....so much to catch up on....so i thought I would just do today and then work backwards so to speak.

Got up this morning in Christchurch and picked up my micro hire car. Smallest and cheapest car I could find...then set off on the route 72 inland scenic route down the east coast of South Island. Very beautiful and it only reminds you of how large the country is and with so little population. Fields upon fields of sheep and cattle and a few Jersey Cows!!!

Got to Oamaru in the late afternoon and checked into my hostel, the smallest one I have stayed in being only able to take 15 people. Spend the day walking the town, quite a history as it used to the main port for shipping refrigerated lamb att he turn of the century and so has several really interesting buildings in it (see pictures). Mainly english settlers and so the architecture is very English.

the reason i ahve stopped here is that its a great place to see penguins and they have a breeding sanctuary here. I have my ticket for 8.30pm tonight to go and watch as this is when the peguns come out the water after a days fishing to feed their chicks. No pictures allowed - damn.

Tommorrow planning to go on the coast road to Dunedin and visit Speights brewery as they give out free drinks!

Take care everyone.

Steve