have arrived in Haast, a stopover village on the west coast on the way to Wanaka/Queenstown. It's blisteringly hot, not what we had been led to expect, although the sandflies are starting to bite now. They love my ankles and the small of my back.

Annabel fell a little ill last night after dinner, but is much better this morning. She hasn't got much room in her stomach and we ate quite late, so there's nothing to worry about.

The trip down from Franz Josef was great. We had a walk around Lake Matheson, which is famous for showing reflections of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman in the lake, but unfortunately it was a bit windy although it was still pretty impressive. We stopped off for another break at Lake Pakaringa which was just lovely where we had chocolate and banana muesli bars.

 

Hope this pic comes through ok, the others looked a bit dark when i checked the blog earlier. The camera on the mob isnt gr8 (only 300k!) and so will b looking 2 get a 3g one when the prices come down. Anyway, yesterday we tried 2 have a picnic beside a river, just b4 franz josef. All was going well until annabel mentioned deliverence and said the air smelt of testosterone. I had a paranoia attack and demanded the picnic b cut short as i thought i heard someone giggling. This caused annabel much merriment, i think it must b protective genes kicking in or summat!

I've got 6 minutes and 52 seconds to post this as i'm internet outpost at the Rainforest Retreat. The major irony with this place is that it looks like it's taken a rainforest to make the retreat judging by the debris i can see out of the window. The place is fairly new and we're here for a couple of days.

Today was brilliant, we slept in and then took a drive and walk up to take some pretty breathtaking photos of the glacier itself. I confused myself trying to understand the geology of the place but eventually felt content to stop thinking and just go 'wow' inwardly, which brought on a smile.

Afterwards, we took a fairly long walk down to Lake Wombat, a lovely little place where we scoffed a picnic of BLT and Ham Salad sandwiches, with chocolate brownies and fizzy pop. I read Empire magazine, which contained a helpful list of 100 movies i must rent out on DVD when i get back, together with little 'Seen It' checkboxes which i thought was great.

Loads of pics on this holiday, burnt off 210 already. Camcorder not seeing much usage, dunno why, scenery doesn't move very much, and i'm getting into my photography a bit more.

toodlepip.

we got 2 westport late afternoon and went to the coal museum which was really cool 2 my surprise. W'port itself wasnt up 2 much but our dinner last night and bfast this morning at the barhouse cafe were superb. 2Day we headed down the west coast taking in the amazing pancake rocks b4 stopping in sunny greymouth where i bought annabel a jade ring at the jade and greenstone museum. Beautiful day again, totally spoilt with all this nature, next stop hokitika.

1 year ago we got married, off 4 dinner at cape foulwind, seriously.

motuekas finest cafe bar, reggae at night and the delicious 'hangover brekkie' in the morning.

Well, what an experience that was. Most of the day long trip was idyllic paddling around looking at birds. However, going around the back of adele island when the wind picked up unexpectedly, was the scariest 30 mins ive had in a long time. A, 7 mths pregnant in the front, me steering us into the waves 2 avoid being tipped over into the rocks behind. Pretty bloody stupid in hindsight, although were both 2 have done it. Oh, the moorings rest't in motueka is terrible, worst steak ive had since coming 2 nz!

got a boat from kaiteriteri 2 torrent bay and went 4 walk 2 cascade falls. Beautiful sunny day, water clear and torquoise. Bush down here smells very sweet and the land granity. U could easily spend 2 weeks here in abel tasman, in fact we spoke 2 1 lady who had been here over 1 month! 2Morrow we have a day of sea kayaking around abel tasman, cant wait!

off 2 abel tasman after full cooked bfast from ra's cafe on queen st richmond, yum.

staying in top 10 hol park cabim. Annabel is having pregnancy nap, im doing a bit of planning 4 our trip 2 abel tasman 2morrow, where we r planning 2 spend 2 nights. Everything very beautiful, looking 4ward 2 a bit of sea kayaking.

arrived in nelson after an amazing scenic drive from picton. So heres the back of the car.

actually its this 1, Sans cd player. A threw a strop and demanded a map of picton and highlighting of the nearest Warehouse. The man replied that there was only 1 street and the choice basically amounted 2 left or right. Welcome 2 the south island. There is no Warehouse in Picton btw.

Just picking up our car, a toyota corolla mkii with a cd player.

weve finally managed to weave a bit of a plan 2gether beyond down the left and up the right. Were doing nelson, motueka, westport, greymouth, franz josef, haast, wanaka, queenstown, te anau, invercargill, dunedin, cromwell, tekapo, christchurch, and kaikoura b4 heading back 2 picton 4 ferry, 18 sleeps woo hoo!

seem here documenting the trip. Perhaps well c an irishman's wife down under blog appearing soon?

Just leaving w'ton 4 pictnn, still a bit grey, but it's stopped raining and will b sunny in nelson.

well, the points failure didnt last long, but it is still raining. A's brother has a flat we could stay in with a plasma. We went 4 lovely dinner at tinakori bistro, b4 collapsing in heap. Taxi coming shortly 2 take us 2 ferry terminal.

only about 1 hr outside w'ton, and heavens have opened alongside a points failure.

another shot

just passed over some enormous viaducts, built over an increasing number of gorges as we head south 2wards wellington.

unfortunately, the central north island is very overcast 2day, so we havent seen much of the mountains. we have howevdr discovered blueberry chocolate!. pic is of a huge big viaduct, there are loads of these down here.