J: Epic travelling by car from Lake Taupo in the middle of North Island to the northern tip of the Coromandel peninsula on the north coast (though not the far west-north where the Bay of Islands is.). Some very long flat stratches and nearer the end the hairpin bend roads through the volcanic hills. Oe of the flat plains had the equivalent of Newmarket stables all along it. As usual the tiny settlements offering a shop with a cafe and one or two other amenities l...

W&J: We flew up in a small plane from a very windy Wellington over the volcanoes to Lake Taupo and arrived yesterday about midday. Picked up a bigger car which will be good as we are driving around again for the next few days.Lake Taupo is a vocanic crater the size of Singapore! Staying in a very smart 5* B&B with views over the lake and to the 2 active volcanoes in the distance. Absolutely amazing. In the afternoon we visited the spectacular Huka Fa...

W: Hello all. We are in Wellington for the night. Sorry no photos but we are using the computer in the hotel and can't load any, hopefully we can at the next place we stay. We went whale watching in Kaikoura saw four or five - not sure about one it looked like a big log in the distance to me however we were assured it was one of them so we raced over to it but it had dived. There were also loads of dolphins and an albatross so it was a really special day. We th...

W. Did a walk around central Christchurch yoday. Weather a bit chilly this morning then sun came out and surprised us this PM. It really is like home here in so many ways. We eventually trcked down the native Kiwi ina which was a real treat given how endangered they are, In the afternoon we went for a walk by the river and through the botanical gardens having lunch about 3,30! they were really lovely. Punting on the river etc as well Tomorrow we drive up to...

J: Just one view since driving from Franz Joseph to Greymouth on the west coast to catch the train across to Christchurch. But they're fixing a tunnel at the mo so actually it was a convoy of three coaches for a couple of hours until Arthur's Pass then the train. We preferred the coach to the train in the end because we were in a carriage full of chinese all taking loudly, playing cards and toing and froing to the buffet. My solution was Wedg's ipod turned up re...