27.02.11 Waikawa Today we took a day off and had a relaxing day. We drove to Waikara which has a marina and a small village beach area. It is set between the hills that we walked in yesterday and is a very tranquil little place. Having wondered round the harbour and mariner we found it was lunch time so we stopped at a restaurant overlooking the marina and just sat, read the papers and watched the activity whilst soaking up the views. The village has a very s...

21.02.11 Lake Wanaka Through the Haast Pass to Jacobs River All was bright and breezy this morning as we left the camper park site. As we drove around Lake Wanaka it became clear that once through the valley there would be rain. The wind was funnelling through the neck of the valley turning the still lake into a grey, white horse covered mass quite different from the deep turquoise colours displayed during our first hours drive. We journeyed deep into the gor...

25.02.11 Nelson to PictonThis morning was bright and breezy and the view from our camper was stunning. We enjoyed a lazy breakfast which lead into coffee and then left for Picton. Liz and Jim are doing the Queen Charlotte Walk Saturday, Sunday and Monday so Damian and I are going to base ourselves around the Picton area.We stopped for some fresh steamed green mussels from Havelock, and Damian tried a whitebate patty, a sort of omlette with whole whitebait looking...

24.02.11 Murchison to Nelson Today we travelled to Nelson so that Liz and Jim could meet with Viv and George and the boys and take them out for a meal this evening. They are marooned in Nelson, luckily at a friends house. They are in a really shocked state. We found out from our friends Colin and Jana that their son and family who live in Christchurch are ok, though Mark(their son) was at work in the centre and was cut and bruised. Their house has escaped stru...

TODAY WE BECAME GRANDPARENTS TO A BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY - 9lb 2oz, baby Lewis. Congratulations Rachel and Graham and a great big well done to Rachel!!! 23.02.11 Pancake Rocks to Murchison The sun was actually shining this morning so we left early and headed up the west coast towards Cape Foulwind and Westport, stopping at Charleston on the way. We alaso made a stop at Tauranga bay and walked the boadwalk coastal path to see the fur seal colony. It was pretty ...