Idesia Bed & Breakfast Nelson

Woohoo...this time tomorrow I am going to be on my way to Christchurch! We have made a snap decision to go early, so we can shop for last minute things that typically....Nelson never has.We are going to drive down in the van. Not a ************* when the airfares are ridiculously expensive. I can't justify spending more than to get to Christchurch, than it is costing us to fly to Bali! I mean come on..christchurch is 6 hours ...

... 24 hour journey down from Darwin via Brisbane and Sydney, we landed at Auckland at around midnight, two very tired travellers. We spent our first night in an airport lodge and the following morning got up bright and early to get the airport shuttle into Auckland city centre. Our bus driver was super friendly, asking everyone where they were going and advising them where to get off. We got off the bus and walked, with all our stuff, up the steepest street in Auckland to ...

... tea then make our way up a big hill to the "centre" of New Zealand. After a few pictures and a chat with everyone else on the bus who happen to be on the hill as well we make our way back to the hostel for the free soup that is made everyday for 6pm.

Turns out it's probably free for a reason, not all that tasty, was basically just boiled vegetables with no seasoning at all. Never mind, we decide to try out the hot tub ...

... in the world and didnt fail to impress driving 54miles (along 70mile beach (strange name)) with the white sands and clear waters....we also saw the shipwrek of an old first class carrier that has been on the beach for many many yrs (cant remember how long). on the island we also saw lake wabby (gorgeous green lake surrounded by sand dunes - but can be dangerous as joe found out after diving in and popping his eardrum). viki and i also found it very funny that the ...

... she accepted the handful of change. So, a bit of creativity and perseverance and we got our goods! Next, we went across the street to a pub for some lunch before heading to Kaikoura. We both ordered burgers from the menu without too much consideration. However, what we were served was just incredible. My burger, "The Works", included fried egg, bacon, cheese, caramelized onion, beet root, lettuce, tomato ...

... of backpackers in these lodges the ones that get up at the crack of dawn and go off doing all the pursuits packing in as much as possible, normally preplanned, and then those that seem to have been around for months and have extended their stay for "yet another month". Converstaions between the later types will revolve around what is their "made up name" where they decide to take on an alias and almost suedo personality to make a stay more interesting between more casual excursions.

... anirem al pub mes vell de NZ: Moutere Inn on tastarem 3 cerveses diferents i una sidra... Sortirem cantant del pub! :) Al arribar al camping, sopem i dormir, ja que dema toca fer una excursio amb kayak. Quines ganes! 22.02.2009 Um 7.50 Uhr werden wir von Andy unserem Guide fuer die heutige Sea Kayak Tour im Abel Tasman Park abgeholt. Wir gehen an Bord des kleinen Sportbootes und flitzen zum Strand von Onetahuti. Dort werden wir startklar gemacht und dann geht es mit ...

... beat Neil!! We have a photo of the scores that I will put on later. He did say he would divorce me if I beat him, so I toned down my second punch! On Saturday, we went to the local market, and then up to Christchurch Cathedral. We found the local organic brewery, where we had a tasting plate each, then went for a walk around the Japanese Gardens. Made use of the pool and spa again (it would've been rude not too!)

Hello from the beautiful park of Abel Tasman. We're staying in a motorcamp right opposite the beach - fab. The weather is good which makes seeing the sights all the better. Day 1 we decided to orientate outselves with a boat trip, they did try to get us to go kayaking, but it looked a long way on the map and I was slightly concerned that I wouldn't be back to do the ...

... which is a massive boulder that the Maori believe was split in half when two legendary warriors had a fight and hit it inadvertantly with an axe. Now the Maori are pretty big blokes, and I wouldn't start a fight with them, but I really doubt if they could inflict this kind of damage to a big boulder. We cruised all the way up the coast to the most northerly point, passing by a ...