Today we went to the Tao papa museum in wellington, we have been walking past this massive building for a week now, meaning to go in but never finding the time. Well today we did it we went, and it's free, so it's nice on our wallets. The museum is very big, and we are advised to do it over a couple of days so we can take it all in. Today we sta...

First, I'd like to thank everyone who expressed their concerns about my diet.  I have reduced my average daily peanut consumption to less than 20g per day.  It's been a while since I wrote, mostly because internet is so expensive, so first I'll do a brief summary of what I've done since Tauranga.  I went to a town called Rotorua, ...

Not wanting to offend or anything, but after the South Island, Wellington isn't that great a scene-setter for the North Island.  From the peace and calm of the South we are thrown into a typical modern city.  We checked into the 'Downtown Backpackers', remarkable for: its Art Deco style (when you know as little about architecture as me...

Are you ready?   Are you sat down?   You're just about to read one of the world's most expected surprises (apparently!).   Can I ask you to dim the lights and a drum roll please............   It is with sincerest and deepest pleasure that I am to announce that Miss Katharine Logan has agreed to marry Mr Nicholas Furmston. TA ...

Just finished watching the musical Urinetown - it was GREAT. I am never going to miss any musical that comes my way anymore. Out of impulse I booked a seat, although there were misgivings on plays in New Zealand - the previous one that we watched in Palmerston North, "Stiff", was just average and the accent was too heavy for me. Yet another reas...

In the morning we left Plimmerton and go to the Picton ferry terminels, to boerd the Interislander ferry to Picton and the south island.

Apologies for being so tardy, but I've been having too much of a good time to sit down and write up everything. I thought I'd better get up to speed though. Here's the first instalment. When the carousel for our flight stopped and our bags had not arrived, it was pretty obvious that the bags were having a holiday somewhere without us. After fill...

I have been spending a few days in the capital city, Wellington, before I get the ferry tomorrow to the South Island. It's a really nice place, much nicer and more accessible than Auckland, mostly because it's smaller. I've been doing the usual city things, wandering around seeing the sights, relaxing outside of cafes in the sunshine (note outsi...

Well, we are 5 days away from our trip and have almost everything squared away. The first month of our trip reads like a contiki trip, but after Spain and Morocco the rest we will make up as we go along! Monday 20th March : New Zealand to Tokyo Thurdsday 23rd March: Tokyo to Frankfurt Friday 24th March: : Frankfurt to Israel Thursday 30th March ...

Got to the airport pretty early, ready for the first flight