Now that I've been back in the UK for a few days and have had time to reflect, I thought it worthwhile to jot down my musings on what has undoubtedly been the best trip I've ever embarked upon.

The focus will be on New Zealand, but let's not forget that I started in Australia.

Melbourne. A lovely city and host of the Australian Open. Can watching sport be much more satisfying than sitting in a stadium full of passionate Aussies witnessing their guy being comprehensively beaten by a Brit? It was great to see Murray's return to form, and I believe that Kyrgious potentially has a bright future within the sport.

Foster. It was great to see a bit of rural Australia that most visitors miss. Despite it being a public holiday while I was there, the isolation and beauty just 2 hours out of Melbourne was apparent. Beautiful scenery and escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Now for New Zealand...

Auckland. Built on a fairly narrow stretch of land between the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea this is a lovely city with natural harbours galore and easy access to beautiful coastline.

Northland. Often missed by tourists, probably because Auckland separates it from the rest of the country, this is the sub tropical end of New Zealand. The Bay of Islands on the Pacific coast is stunningly beautiful, plus you've got the history of Russell and Waitingi. Then on the west coast are the beautiful kauri forests.

The Coromendals. This mountainous peninsula to the east of Auckland had stunning coastal scenery, with beautiful beaches on the Pacific coast. The small cruise from Hahei to see the Cathedral Cove was fantastic and I highly recommend it. The Driving Creek Railway was fascinating and a great example of how one person's vision and drive can create something amazing.

Hobbiton. I'm so pleased that this film set had been kept so that we can all see the level of detail, imagination and craftmanship that went into creating the films. Although extremely busy when I went, the tours are all organised and done in such a way that other groups did not intrude.

Rotorua and Lake Taupo. Geysers, steam vents, hot springs, bubbling mud pools, driving through the thermal power station and sailing on a massive lake in a volcanic crater while seeing smoke rising from one of the surrounding volcanoes. Awe inspiring examples of the power of nature. And as if that's not enough, you can add Maori culture into the mix.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Believe the hype. The spectacle of thousands of these tiny creatures shining like stars from above is amazing. The other caves are also well worth a visit, but leave the Glowworm Caves to be the climax of the visit.

Napier. A beautiful coastal town that is known for its Art Deco architecture.

Mount Bruce Wildlife Park. An opportunity to see many of the native birds including the rare white kiwi, and other creatures. The staff are highly enthusiastic, knowledgeable and passionate about the conservation work they're doing.

Wellington. Another lovely city in a beautiful setting. The Te Papa museum is fantastic and free.

Queen Charlotte Sound and Nelson. Sailing through the sound under the moonlight was simply amazing. Driving round the sound just after dawn equally so. Add in more fantastic scenery on route to Nelson, plus the lovely old fishing town of Havelock, proves that the north part of the South Island is more than just a gateway to the rest of it.

Geraldine. A gem of a little town with its own little cinema and a couple of surprises. It was a shame the weather prevented us from taking advantage of the observatory as I'm sure it would've been fascinating. However, the Mediaeval Mosaic more than made up for it as another example of how the driving passion and obsession of one individual can create something amazing and beautiful. The guy should be a national treasure. Add in the delicious wares of the Talbot Cheese Factory, and this town has everything.

Lakes Tekapo and Pukakaki. Stunningly beautiful lakes with mountainous backdrops, including Mount Cook. We saw many examples of this type of scenery, but these two were probably the best. The colour of the water was simply fantastic.

Dunedin. Home of the world's steepest residential street, which has to be seen to be believed. The Otago Peninsula is also another beautiful area.

The Catlin's. Tucked away at the bottom of the island, this beautiful, remote area is well worth visiting for its natural and varied scenery, as well as the opportunity to get close to nature. Spend a week here and I highly recommend The Anchorage in Waikawa. Great reasonably priced accommodation with a priceless view.

Invercargill. Whether you're a Petrol Head or not, the hardware store is well worth a visit if only to witness the combination of commerce with a passion for classic bikes and cars. And don't forget to look out for the cabinet with innovative hammers and other tools.

The beautiful Stewart Island is also well worth a visit. Another place where you could easily spend a week and it still not be long enough.

Riverton. Historic little town with one of the best museums I've ever been in. Plus lots of beautiful coastal scenery around the area.

Fiordland. Simply stunning. Mountains, Mirror Lakes, Milford Sound and the underwater observatory with its passionate and knowledgeable guides. Essential viewing!

Queenstown. NZ's party town. The jet boat ride was fantastic. All activities are available here so just make your choice.

If you fancy the quieter life but still want access to Queenstown, then Arrowtown is the place for you. The most picturesque town we visited. Would've been good to stay there and see it after the coaches have departed for the day.

Glaciers. Flying over the glaciers and seeing Mounts Tasman and Cook was simply breathtaking. If your finances can stretch to it, go for the full 40 minute flight. Economise else where if necessary.

Hokitika. What a fantastic bonus to see the driftwood art on the beach, however it's well worth stopping by anyway for the abundant stones of all shapes, sizes and colours that are washed up here, not just the greenstone.

Pancake Rocks and blowholes. Another example of the beauty, power and mystery of nature and, therefore, another essential stop.

Crossing the Southern Alps again. During our time in country, we saw so many mountain views but never grew tired of them.

Christchurch. A sobering visit with more examples of the power of nature, but this time in a destructive way. Ultimately came away feeling positive regarding the future.

Banks Peninsula. Another beautiful area, with a taste of France in Akaroa.

One of the greatest attractions of New Zealand is its natural beauty and forever changing landscape throughout the whole country. That in itself makes the place worth the of trip to get there. But beautiful, stunning scenery is not enough alone to make a country great. What greatly helped make our visit even more memorable were the people we met. With just 1 or 2 exceptions, everyone was friendly, chatty and helpful. Whether natural born Kiwis, European visitors who has decided to stay, fellow tourists or hitchhikers, all were happy to share the joys of the country. Many thanks to everyone we met who helped make this such a fantastic and enjoyable trip.

I've been asked to name my top 3 experiences from the trip. It's a tough task, but I've decided on....
3. Milford Sound
2. Helicopter flight over the glaciers
1. The people

When writing these blogs I self imposed a ban of the use of one word. Not because I dislike the word, far from it, but because it is over used. However, I'm now lifting the ban. Everything about being in New Zealand was simply awesome.

Just go and sample it for yourself.