Well it probably isn't but this is our last day on South Island and everyone says it's much better than the North. And we have had a fantastic time. Often we'd think 'well it can't get better than this' and then we'd turn a corner and it did! The scenery has been just fantastic. The wildlife has been wonderful. The food and the drink has been superb. The campsites have been great - and all of the toilets are clean and always have toilet paper - even the public on...

We have arrived in Kaikoura (pronounced Kaicoda) under sunny blue skies after two days of rain. Kaikoura is a stunning setting. Tourquoise blue sea backed by snow capped mountains and black sand. It would be possible to ski here in the morning before joining the surfer dudes in the fully macking double overhead corduroy to the horizon. But most people don't come here to ski or surf. They come to take part in various cetacean related activities - whale watching a...

Oh dear! I seem to be struggling to keep this blog up to date. Hopefully I'll get around to doing it tomorrow. Although as tomorrow we're planning a tour of some of Malborough's finest wineries I wouldn't bet on it. In the meantime here is my photo of the week. No apologies for sticking with the theme of spectacular scenery or for using a photo I've already included in a previous blog. Watching the sun set on Aoraki/Mount Cook was truly awesome and being able to...

Over the last few days we've driven from Glenorchy to Hanmer Springs and experienced pretty much every differet facet of South Island. The weather has ranged from glorious sunshine for the drive from Glenorchy to Aoraki/Mount Cook and then up to Wanaka into driving rain and wind on the West Coast at Punakaiki and northwards. As ever the scenery has been equally varied. Aoraki/Mount Cook was mountain scenery at its grandest - the sunset on the West Face was aweso...

The weather didn't clear at Mount Cook so after hanging round waiting for 2 hours we moved on to Wanaka. Blue skies so no problem surely? A trip to look at Mt. Aspiring - New Zealand's Matterhorn - would do nicely. The very helpful staff at the visitor centre (far too helpful if you were stood in the queue for ages whilst they helped someone organise getting their arse wiped in Auckland in 3 weeks time.) 'phoned around several companies only to be told that they ...