Kia ora Auckland!!

My mum's very good friend Chantal gave us a very warm welcome to Auckland after a quiet but tiring 13 hour flight, it was great to see a familiar face over here on the other side of the world, Chantal, thank you again for your welcome! Our exploration of the area of Auckland was condensed but very efficient, after a couple of hours kip, our Kiwi Perrosienne guide took us just outside the city, thru a dodgy, bendy, gravel road down the mountain to reach a black sanded beach just before a glass of red wine on the top of Mt MacDonald where we had a great first view of New Zealand's breathtaking scenary. The rest of the day just went flying between visiting all the beautifull spots Chantal had for us and trying to cope with the jet lag.

Our second day was a bit of a rush at the beginning, we collected our huge volkswagen campervan just outside the airport around 8 o'clock, and went shopping to fill up the fridge, it took us a while to get everything sorted, but finally got moving towards the Coramandel Peninsula in the early afternoon. The scenary of New Zealand definately deserves it's reputation, the views are stunning! Our first night in the campervan was nice and comfortable, we slept in a carpark beside a nice little lake on the coast in a place called "Whaihi".

Day 3 and we made our way to Rotorua, where we were welcome by the wonderful smell of the sulphur (Smells like rotten eggs). Its because the area is a on a thin part of the earths crust making it a thermal wonderland with a smell to match!! We visited the Maori park Te Puia where we saw one of the largest natural geysers and boiling mudpools. We went for a horse trek into the forest and then to the Polynesian Spa with natural hot waters.

Day 4 We headed down there the thermal area to a park called Wia O tapu. It was a park with all sorts of thermal wonders, mud pools, craters, different coloured pools ( all to do with what gases where coming up through the ground), an amazing place, it was like being on a different planet. After that we went down to Taupo and had our dinner looking over the lake and then made the drive down to Waitomo ready for our next adventure.

Day 5, and we went for a half day black water rafting in the Waitomo Caves to see the glow worms ( which in the dark caves look like the stars in the night sky). After an hour looking around the local museum we spent about 45mins just trying to get into the wetsuits then into the caves. It was brilliant, but wet and cold!!!

A long drive down to Wellington with just a fuel stop and a couple of breaks although we did find an interesting car and the lovely Raukawa Falls

Day 6 and we woke up in Wellington. We did a bit of window shopping, a trip to the museum, and a drive around including up to the Victoria Lookout for some fantastic views of the city. Then to bed early for the early rise for the ferry. Good bye to a fantastic week in the North Island.

Day 7 up bright and early for the 3 hr ferry crossing to the South Island with the beautiful entrance through the Marlborough Sounds.

When we got off the boat we drove down from Picton to Blenheim and then Nelson, through wine making country to the small town of Motueka where we arrived just in time to fill up the cupboards and fridge, have dinner and park up for the night.

Day 8 and we headed around the coast to Taikerikeri and Motueka where we spent a wonderful afternoon treking on two horses (Joe and Mac) with our guide Brian. We went on to the beach through the sea and on to a couple of picturesque little bays.

Day 9 and the sun was still shining so we headed of for and full day around the Abel Tasman National Park. We started with a 3 hour sea kayaking followed by a water taxi to the seal colony and then we were dropped of at Tonga Bay where we did a 1 hour walk through the bush to Bark bay where we were collected again and sailed back to Kaiteriteri on the water taxi. - the most beautiful scenery!! Then we had a long drive to Westport on the West coast to camp up for the night.

Day 10 - its raining, such a contrast to yesterdays brilliant weather, but no big deal, we drove all day down to the Fox Glacier, and parked up ready to do our half day hike the next day.

Day 11- The sun was shinning again for our half day hike to the Glacier. It was about 30 min hike up through bush to the glacier and about 1.5hr on the Glacier. The Glacier is 13km long and about 350m deep and is advancing at about 1 meter per day, amazing stuff!! After a bite of lunch we hit the road and headed to Wanaka. It was the most beautiful drive down the West Coast. We had a Thai dinner when we arrived in the town, camped up and then the next day headed for the adrenaline capital, Queenstown.