This is my last blog entry from the "Land of the long white cloud". I'll try to keep this one short as the last one was an epic, but hey no promises !

On Monday 1 March, I picked up my Ford Focus (automatic), and drove to Hanmer Springs, where I spent time relaxing at the Thermal Pools. There were 12 pools in total (didn't have time to try them all out) and the temperatures varied from 32°C to 41°C. I even tested out the Sulphur pool, which was 41°C - although it was a good idea at the time, it took several showers to fully remove the smell buried deep into my skin !

I then drove on to Kaikoura and stayed at the same YHA as I had done previously with the tour group. The following morning (7.15) I went off for my second Whale Watching tour. It took over an hour to locate the whale, and it was amazing to see the same one again (sorry forgotten his name). We then moved on to look at a pod of dolphins (300 - 400 common and dusky). They are such playful creatures and were swimming, somersaulting and diving around the boat. This time I didn't take any pictures, instead I did a small video of the whales and dolphins - fantastic day !

My final solo destination was to Akaroa, which is a small sleepy town in the Banks Peninsula, south-east of Christchurch.

I stayed at Dolphin Backpackers, which was just a two minute walk to the Harbour. As I'd not had enough of dolphins, I booked myself on yet another dolphin cruise to see the world's smallest dolphin - the Hectors. There are not a lot of Hector Dolphins in the world, so guess I was lucky to see two dolphins on two separate occasions.

On my second day in Akaroa, I went for a walk around the Garden of Tane (a 45 minutes circular walk) and had to chuckle as I reached a slight incline (a hill) as it reminded me of the walks with the group. You have to understand that I am a sort of fit person, (well I am now after all these walks). Well when we went for group walks, somehow Carolyn and I were always ended up being the last ones to return to the minibus. We put this down to the fact that if we saw a beautiful landscape, we would stop to admire and take photos (well that was our excuse anyway). Also we were the "sleepers" ooh I mean the "sweepers" of the pack, checking no-one was left behind (being last was nothing to do with fitness) !

Anyway I've deviated from my walk in Akaroa, about 15 minutes into my walk, I was confronted with an amazing view of the harbour from the edge of the hilltop that I had reached. So I decided to take time out and sit on the bench and reflect on life as you do. Whilst I was sat there, an elderly couple (Mags & Mac from Geraldine) joined me and we sat around chatting for a short while (you all know me I make friends very easily). After saying good bye, we went our separate ways, but an hour later I bumped into them on the waterfront and they invited me back to their apartment for lunch - which I accepted and enjoyed a couple of hours with them. As I was leaving Mags gave me their home address and asked if I would write to her, she has a pen pal for the last 60 years and has never met her (now she'll have a pen friend that she has met). I found out that it's their 60th wedding anniversary next Sunday, so I've got a card which I will post when I return to Christchurch - what a lovely way to end my holiday in NZ !!

I hope everyone from my NZ family has returned home safely and safe travelling to those still continuing their trip round the world !

Well this is good bye from NZ and hope I can return here one day ! Love Dee xx