Well its all over now we are on our way home. What a superb holiday we’ve had. New Zealand is an amazing country. Incredibly beautiful, with a tremendous feeling of space and freedom. So pleased that we have been able to spend this time with Emma before she starts school later this year. And it… Continue reading

On Monday we decided to head up to Lake Taupo to get a good chunk of the journey through the North Island done in one day. It was a great drive up, even though Route 1 is the main road up through the island, it was nothing like the M1. A bit like driving through… Continue reading

Had a nice day in Wellington on Sunday. Mooched around the city and caught the cable car up to the park and the Botanical gardens. Had an amazing lunch at the café in the rose garden, I had lamb and Kumara pie with Salad and K stuffed herself silly with a picnic burger. The hills… Continue reading

As we cruised out of the Marlborough Sounds early this morning we were treated to this wonderful sunrise, which lifted our spirits as, we were sad to be leaving the south island. We have had an amazing time there but I’m sure we will be back. Hello North Island AS you can see it was… Continue reading

Today we went on the boat which does the mail run to the “Permanents” around the Marlborough Sounds. The weather was gorgeous and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We saw amazing scenery; dolphins,(it was so cool to watch them following the boat) seals and Emma got to help deliver the mail. It was also really interesting… Continue reading

Arrived in Picton Last night and today we started to explore the Marlborough Sounds. A beautiful area of bays, inlets and islands. Large parts are only accessible by boat so today we got a boat to Lochmara lodge which has access to the Queen Charlotte track animals to see, a superb café, and also kayaking… Continue reading

Had an amazing drive up the West Cost and up to Abel Tasman. We stopped off at Pancake Rocks on the way. It was fascinating but it was low tide so we didn’t see the blowhole in action. We arrived in Mortueka on Friday night and having only had short stops for a few days… Continue reading

Emma woke at a about 6.30 this morning and wanted company so I got in her bed and together, through the little window above the cab where she’s sleeping we watched the sunrise over the mountains and tonight we parked up at lake Lanthe And sat on a little wooden jetty we watched the sunset.… Continue reading

Had a great day today the weather was really good, K & I shared the driving and we had a great time cruising along the West Coast. The scenery was just superb and we had some really nice stops at Lake Paringa, Bruce Bay and lake Matheson. Lake Paringa Bruce Bay Loopy Girl Losing playing… Continue reading

Yesterday the weather was gorgeous and we have driven up to the West Coast over the Haast Pass. A fantastic drive through forest covered mountains with amazing views all the way. This was the view of lake Wanaka from our DOC campsite that we stayed at Sunday night. It was a really niCe pace and… Continue reading

Today the weather has been gorgeous and we have driven up to the West Coast over the Haast Pass. A fantastic drive through forest covered mountains with amazing views all the way. Continue reading

Is awesome, much better than we thought it was going to be. There is loads and loads to do and it’s a really nice, very chilled town. You could easily spend a fortune doing everything it has to offer. We went on the Skyline Gondola and Emma and I went on the luge a couple… Continue reading

Stayed overnight in Alexandra and in the morning we hired some bikes and went for an 18km ride on the Otago Rail Trail from Alexandra to Clyde and back. The Rail trail goes all the way from Clyde down to Dunedin and looks really good. We really enjoyed it was a great ride from Clyde… Continue reading

It was freezing this morning we could see our breath in the camper van! But it was a blessing in disguise as the weather was absolutely gorgeous. We cruised down to the Moeraki Boulders, which were so amazing and so alien. K said wouldn’t it be weird if you came down one morning and they… Continue reading

Came down to Omaru yesterday to see the penguins first we went to see the yellow eyed penguins a bit further up the coast. It was “flippin” freezing and we only saw one and a snoozing seal. So we headed down to see the blue penguins Which was really good, so cool to watch them… Continue reading

Had a great first stop in Peel Forest. The campsite was great and we had a superb walk through the forest. The rainforest covers the mountain slopes and includes giant ferns and really impressive 1000yr old trees called Totara and Kahikatea. Emma loves her bed above the cab. After Peel Forest we headed up to… Continue reading

Picked up the camper yesterday and stayed at a lovely campsite in Peel forest. Had a really lovely walk in the forest this morning and now we are at Lake Tekapo which is amazing. Our wifi is very slow so hope to get more pics up tommorrow. Continue reading

We were due to go on Thursday but it was blowing a hoolie in the morning and no one was going out in that. We still had a good day though we did a long walk over the peninsula to see the seal colony. After the whales we went to see school of dusky dolphins… Continue reading

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Arrived in kaikoura this morning we’ve just been exploring and hanging out on the beach. Whale watching tomorrow – hope we see some! Continue reading

Had a day in Christchurch yesterday and although we had a good day it is so sad to see how much of the city has got to be demolished. When you got to the edge of the red zone you can easily imagine what a lovely area it used to be and now all you… Continue reading

Had a great weekend in Hanmer Springs. The drive up to Hanmer was gorgeous and we got there with plenty of time for a barbie! This was the view from the house. Lurvely barbie! Saturday, the weather was gorgeous and we had a lovely walk to a nearby petting zoo where K saw her dream… Continue reading

Yesterday we went to Hagley Park and the beautiful Botanical Gardens. It was a lovely day, the flowers were gorgeous and the cicadas were almost deafening. There was also a Lido so Emma was able to have a good splash and cool off I couldn’t believe the size of this Eucalyptus tree. Some of the… Continue reading

Emma asked me to take this piccie as she was most impressed with this lion at Changi airport. We have had a dossy day today. Emma woke at 3.30 and didn’t get back to sleep so we’ve just been hanging out on the beach today. Continue reading

At Christchurch Continue reading

Arrived safe and well in Christchurch this morning had a nice day just mooching, having a walk in the forest and down to the beach. All pretty tired tonight but we’ve stayed awake all day so hopefully we should adjust ok. Continue reading

We have arrived in Singapore. The flight was fine. Emma enjoyed it and although it’s now about 1.30am in the uk she’s having a lovely time exploring the airport. The garden in the picture is just one of the lovely gardens dotted around the airport. Continue reading

Emma and her bag off to the departure gate. Continue reading

Finally finished work today. I’m so glad to be off I haven’t had any time off since May so its been a long old stretch, plus I’ve been thick with cold all week. I have now got seven weeks off and we’re off to New Zealand in the morning – So excited! Continue reading