Thanks to everyone for your messages we really love receiving them and hearing about what's going on at home. Headed towards Golden Bay (top of the South Island) for New Years and stayed in a place called Takaka which is a chilled out place with lots of artsy shops, etc. While we were up in Golden Bay we checked out Farewell Spit - where a lot of whales getting stranded (there were over 100 just before Xmas). Went to a tiny wee town called Collingwood and also...

Well we got back from Kaikoura on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately we couldn't do the seal swim due to rough seas but we're on a waiting list to try and do a dolphin swim before we go to Oz - fingers crossed! Christmas day was a fairly relaxed affair and a game of Trivial Pursuit - Girls (Linda, Kate and Mel) vs Boys (Zak and Pete). You'll be pleased to know the girls won! Ha, ha!! Rematch on the way. The day after Boxing Day we went out on a jet boat. One of P...

Arrived in Christchurch on 4th Dec and all is going very well here. Staying with Zak's mum and family for a week or so and then we are going off in a car for a couple of weeks to explore the northern part of the south island. We've been for a drive around Christchurch, the Port Hills and surrounding areas. The scenery is beautiful, although we hear it just gets better and better. We're going to Akaroa on Weds for the day which is about a 90 min drive away fro...