We are off to cruise around Doubtful Sound tomorrow for the day - 8.45am pick up! bit early. Here at Te Anau west New Zealand as we tour round the fjords. Gorgeous weather today as we drove over from Dunedin. Fingers crossed for sun and blue skies tomrrow. Celebrating the birth of the newest Dowdeswell also - Zachary arrived yesterday (depending on where you are in the world that may be different) and all are doing well. This area is staggeringly picturesque a...

Set sail this morning for the Southern Island - that was a shock! The early start I mean. 3 hours later arrived in Picton and drove down to Kaikoura where we will stay for the night. Views now are of snow capped mountains, sheep, deer and cows. We have driven what you might call a coastal road to get here...boy, coastal in the extreme! Very picturesque and the people continue to smile, which makes us smile! Looking to watch some whales tomorrow and the odd dolphi...

Drove from Bay of Islands (pretty!) to Lake Rotorua yesterday and are camped at Lakeside thermal holiday park - you could not get much closer to the Lake. When we wake up..it's there! Amid loads of mineral clouds like the one in the picture this place is amazing. We have been in another cable car today and descended the hillside in a luge! Visited Kiwi birds to boot. We head down to Lake Taupo tomorrow then to Wellington for the end of the week. Happy Birthday ...

Another leg completed. Arrived Auckland yesterday and already linked up with Nigel (John's brother)...several hours in an Irish pub later!! Sitting with a load of New Zealanders watching them beat South Africa at the rugby was quite an experience. Bumped into a group of Kiwis who play for Auckland Welsh team!! - new friends made already. We have picked up our campervan today which looks a lot of fun for a month. Apparantly there is snow on the South Island and we...

Arrived Brisbane after 3 day drive here. Leaving Oz (sadly) for New Zealand 11am tomorrow...leaving a lot of memories behind. Meeting Nigel (John's brother) in Auckland for a few days then off in the campervan!!!! Love to all