We spent New Year at a little place called Little Akaloa, on the Banks peninsula, a beautiful collection of batches (beach houses to you and me) dotted about the hillsides of an equally beautiful bay.

We stayed in a batch with a group of friends, plus dogs and kids, so there was always someone doing something. We did things like jump of the wharf at the end of the bay (scary but great fun) and went out on a friends boat and did a bit of snorkelling in the bay, a cold experience, but the beer on the boat afterwards made up for it. Most of our time was spent sleeping in the hammocks or drinking a beer waiting for the next meal to come along. With the stunning views and good company it was a great three days away.