Today we really found out what The Goat can do on the road as we travelled from Hamner Springs to Motueka on the north coast next to the Able Tasmin national park.

Driving The Goat, so named after the registration plate, is a bit like driving a big sofa. She bombs along at 100 km/hrs (the national speed limit) but is rather pedestrian when it comes to going up hills. Also Harriet is getting used to driving an automatic and is a bit freaked out about the lack of control as to which gear the goat is using. The goat beeps when you put her in reverse and for lots of other reasons we aren't quite sure of.

Having said that today's drive as a glorious one up into the mountains of the Southern Alps and then down to the northern coast where some of the first European settlers came.

The drive up was through beautiful native forest. Over the valley floor sprawled a lazy river which obviously in spring is much faster flowing given the width of the river bed, all fed from snowy mountains above.

Mike had an easy job of navigating as there were many kilometres between junctions. At Springs we stopped off at the cafe for coffee and steak and kidney pie. Mike said it reminded him of Greggs. Later on we had a quick stop to see a rather magnificent waterfall, very impressive even after a long hot summer.

We descended through a more cultivated valley to Motueka but we could still smell the sweet aroma of the manuka trees lining the river bed.

We resting with a very nice local beer having stocked up with provisions and booked our boat trip and walk in the Abel Tasmin park tomorrow.