auckland to abel tasman photos

safe and sound, ready for bed as train was delayed for 2 hrs because it was too warm! heat restrictions applied and we crawled along at 40km/hr for ages. Anyway, house is still in one piece and it is soooo nice to be back in our own bed!

3114 kms travelled, 100 or so of them by me (i mainly provided excellent navigational advice) and we are back 2 r s island starting point, Picton. Thanks 2 nick, were able 2 stay in plush apartment in w'ton, b4 heading back to sunny auckland by train 2morrow.

Weather still not gr8 but we still managed 2 have a bath in the rain at the room with a view boutique lodge in Kaikoura. We're just about 2 head back 2 picton via lunch in Blenheim, it's been a brilliant holiday despite not seeing any dolphins!

as conditions worsened and the skipper announced "u may wish 2 view the giant albatross 2 ur left", this was countered with "f--k the albatross, get me back 2 dry land!".

what a ride. Dolphin encounter was abandoned as conditions were too bad, but not b4 wd endured 30 mins of seriously bum-clenching sailing.

Apart from the HUGE 4head, not a bad likeness, got it done in q'town market a few days ago.

We had been given a lot of mixed reports about c'church, but like with Dunedin we were both pleasantly surprised. A very English city, we were able 2 go punting dowm the Avon river when i fell asleep. The art gallery (recently opened in 2003) was gr8, there was some moderm stuff from s korea which was real funny, nice 2 c people smiling rather than stroking their chins 4 a change. we went and saw North Country and Walk the Line, both highly recommended. Went 2 pizza hut 4 first time since uni. Unlimited dessert consistin of choc cake, choc mousse, jelly, ice cream, choc sauce and choc pieces 4 on top. I only realised dessert was free after stuffing myself with pizza (sans crusts, that's how they like 2 fill u up, also ask 4 water not pop which is extra fizzy) so i was gutted only 2 b able 2 have 2 bowls. Have begun panic eating ar new fitness regime kicks in on Wed on r return.

overcame the nerves 2 go up the mountain by skilift, gr8 views of c'church and surrounds.

We stopped off 2 view the rather strange boulders at moeraki, and took some pics of a's tummy next 2 one of them. Beware the offensive $2 fee via the restaurant, take the 'alternative access' in which is the official public free access! Timaru was a bit overcast but we had our first indian in ages, and read our books, all very civilised.

we both really liked dunedim from the start. Easy 2 walk around in the centre, lots of cool shops and cafes, it had a very positive vibe. We had dinner and then went 2 see the abysmal River Queen!

this is a really cool drive across the se coast 2 dunedin. There r many stop offs, but as it was so windy (a couldnt open her door at one point!) we managed only 2. The first was a famous cascades which has a long name i cant remember, and 2nd was nugget point, a cliff walk 2 above a seal colony. We havd yet 2 see any penguins though. Quite a long drive 2day, arriving in dunedin just after 6.

2 b perfectly honest i cant really recommend invercargill too highly as a holiday spot. the weather turned nasty as we hit the south coast, and we arrived at the beach road motel, which oddly only took cash. when we entered our 'room' it was pretty clear it hadnt been cleaned in months if not years. dust, woodrot and a strange musty stentch were its main characteristics. the showers were worse, unusable really, whilst the tv room was like something out of a 70s Pinter play. After rushing down 2 the beach 2 get away from it all we decided 2 go back and clear off pronto. We found somewhere decent on our 2nd attempt, and complained 2 the council aswell! The good bit was going 2 the southland museum and a trip down to the coastal town of Bluff where we saw an amazing sunset over stewart island.

We drove down up to Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park, the best drive of the holiday so far, and not to be missed. Milford Sound itself at the terminal was pretty hectic, lots of tourists and so we were a little wary the sounds would be full of boats. However, once we set sail we hardly saw another boat for 2.5 hours and were greeted with waterfalls, seals the odd dolphin and the most astounding scenery i've ever seen. No mobile pictures i'm afraid, but quite a few uuality ones to be posted up on our return next week. We were pretty lucky with the weather as aparrently they get 220 inches of rain down here a year, over 200 days a year are a washout!

We were planning to do some of the many walks available along the Te Anau - Milford Sound highway, but were both pretty exhausted by the time we went home. I've just spent 30 minutes under a cold shower and am still feeling pretty zonked to be honest. Tonight will consist of pizza and falling asleep on the lakefront before the sandflies start to bite.

It's nice to get all the comments people, makes me feel like i'm not talking to myself like some madman. Anyway, Lucy Howard, can you please post up a comment to let me know you're still alive, i've been old you're checking every Monday but you've been very quiet and Annabel and I would like to make sure you're still alive.

Captain Chris, can you please post up your blog address, as your wedding one is busted and i think you changed your main one.

Nasty Marlon, are you still out there?