25/10/11 The TranzAlpine is rated as one of the great train journeys of the world. It runs between Christchurch and the West Coast and I'm currently on it with Casey Jones. Not particularly an 'active' pursuit, but standing on the open-air viewing platform, attempting to take photographs, was pretty exciting, especially when going through one of the tunnels. Eight hours, 36 tunnels and 463 kilometres later, (with a stop) we returned to Christchurch and althou...

21/10/11 We are becoming accustomed to the scenery now and no longer ooh and aah, quite so much every time we come across something dramatic, which to be honest, when driving along the roads here, is pretty often. More relaxed in the camper-van too, we're quite used to things flying open as we twist and turn on some of the more vertiginous roads. Drawers and cupboards have flown open whilst motoring and on several occasions, I've had to leave my seat (passenger...

Injuries, accidents, general stupidity and miscellany. Tripped over a bench in Auckland city centre, resulting in a badly bruised shin. Actually went right over it, I was busy with the camera at the time. Livened things up having mistakenly entered 'men's' showers on one camp site, and 'dripped dried' having forgotten my towel, at another. Tripped over a post on the ferry. Threw my arms out instinctively and smacked some chap hard on the back. Narrowly avoid...

18/10/11 Aboard the Kaitaki 'Challenger'. Cook Strait We are being subjected to a French 'Ompah Band' on this Inter-islander ferry to Picton. Not the best of things to contend with when one is feeling a tad 'sea-sick'. Having endured the cacophony down in the cafe bar, we went out onto the sun-deck to escape them, only to be followed by a wandering contingent, hell bent on subjecting us to their 'Musique de Rue' Out on deck though, it is positively breathtaki...

Wellington 16/10/11 Arrived in Wellington and headed to town. Wonderful meal at a super restaurant on Wellington waterfront called St John's. Housed in a former ambulance station, the food and wine were superb (the latter overpriced, but it was from the Gimblet Gravels, so we knew its background) Our table was in an excellent position, situated as it was next to a window overlooking the BIG screen, outside in the Fan-zone. We were able to keep an eye on the war...