Kaikoura

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Hi everyone

Whale watching day has arrived and we woke to a gorgerous day of clear blue skies and not a cloud to been seen, a prefer day for whale watching, if there is one.
Saw three sperm whales and took loads of photos to prove it, they were awesome sights to been seen in their natural environment.
Natalie this time around did feel the effects of the calm seas and lost some colour on the boat, but at least not her breakfast.
Spent the afternoon at the coast taking in the seal colony along the rough coast line, fantastic views all with snow capped mountains around us.  The South Island is so vast, huge and quiet did not know what all the Kiwi do as you never see them out at night.
Moved onto Hanmer Springs so we could spend a day relaxing at the hot springs and pools as all this travel is so  much like hard work.
Again spent the evening in a bar on arrival at Hanmer Springs.

Wellington to Picton

Hi followers

0600am start and it was freezing first thing, up so early to make the ferry crossing from Wellington (North Island) over to Picton (South Island).
The crossing was smooth and it must have been as Natalie was not sea sick, the views on arriving at Picton were awesome (a NZ saying).  It was so lush, vast and amazing as we arrived into the port of Picton for the start of our South Island trip.
Drove to Blenhiem where we stopped for a walk around and a spot of lunch in a supermarket carpark, that was luxury for us!!!  And must remember to check out the "bakery store" again if we see on, so many free samples on offer, we nearly did not need any lunch.
Travelled onto Kaikoura for our Whale Watching trip planned for the morning.  Camperd at Kaikoura stopping on route to photograph the seal colony along the coast on route.  Spent the evening in a local bar and included in the price of the drinks was a very extremely sticky floor, so Kiwi!!!

Wellington

House Keeping Day

Have you seen my socks?

View from the cable car

Hi Campers

Our journey through the North Island continues today to Wellington, where it comes to an end.  Arrived bright and early after the last 90 km passed swiftly with GILBERT O'SULLIVAN on the radio, which made Natalie's day.  And best of all his song is listed in the top 20 in NZ (that is for everyone at her works especially Jerry).

In Wellington went up the cable car to the Botanic Gardens and the wonderful views over Wellington and wandered around the city, just taking in all the sights.  Caught the ferry tomorrow at 1200hrs over to the South Island for the next stage of our journey.

Napier

Hi followers

Day spent in Napier after our exhausting and fun filled day at the caves.
Wandered, aimlessly around Napier the Art Deco City in NZ, rebuild in this style after being devastated by an earthquake (bit of history for you all).
Laid in the sunshine on the beach, eat large waffle ice creams (again) and drank coffee watching the world go by in the coffee shops.  All with no concept of time or day, what a lovely feeling.
Heading onto Wellington in time to catch our ferry across on Mon 4 Oct 10, to explore the South Island.  All is well with us both.
Have broken the journey to Wellington into comfortable stages and camped in a little place called Levin on the West Coast.

Lazy Days!!!

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Kiwi 360

Hi Kiwi

On our road travel down came across the Kiwi 360 and here you do everything possible you can think of with Kiwi fruit!!!  Will leave that to individual minds and thoughts.

Waitomo

We are laughing now but not for long!!!

I didn't cry much!!!!

I did manage to get out!!!

Smiling again at the end

Out at last!

Hello followers

An early start to the day with our 30m abseil into the caves where we were swepted away by the raging waters below, due to all the rain.  And Natalie ran to be the first one to abseil in!!!!
Then taken into see the glow worms that are really just maggots!!  Our lardy arse's were squeezed through some very tight holes, and we drifted in our black rafts through the caves, bouncing of the cave walls, risking life and limb, however we did both survive.  Viewed the mud caves and Natalie found every deep hole possible to fall into.  She came out with a cut hand, so much blood!!, buised knee and elbow and did not complian once!!
Me I really did say that saying "I have broken a nail!!".
And to finish we rock climbed 30m back out onto the solid ground above once again.
Awesome expereince the best so far, however it was exhausting.
Travelling down to Napier via Lake Taupo tonite.

Rotorua

See we have changed our trousers!!

One for the ladies!!

Lazy Tongue side by side

It did not stop raining so we decided to leave Rotoruna early and travel to Waitomo for the Glow Worm caves and our next adventure in the dark depths of the underground.  Natallie had a lay down on arrival from the flowing NZ roads on the journey.  The next days adventure has been booked that of 5 challenges in one day within the caves.  That of abseiling down 30m to the bottom, black water rafting through the caves, viewing the glow worms, squeezing through small passages in the caves, until we reach the exit a 30m rock climb above us.  The squeeze through tight places is of concern and the saying "does my bum look big in here" springs to mind!!
WIll let you know if we manage the challenges tomorrow.

By the way has anyone noticed the change of trousers after 6 days here the smell must have reach the UK by now!!!!