Harbourside Motor Lodge Nelson

... I was not embarrassing myself and looking the other way, the views over the Marlborough sounds and Nelson were awesome.<br><br>After throwing the bag in at the aptly named Sussex guest house (in Nelson &#8211; get it?) I wandered off up the hill nearby to the 'Centre of New Zealand' &#8211; it was all of 500ft but I was a wheezing fat boy needing a note from Matron by the time I got to the top which did not bode well for the three ...

... the &#8216;Whangerei falls&#8217;, which were named the &#8216;Paris Hilton&#8217; of waterfalls by the Lonely Planet - for us this was probably number 2088 of waterfalls we had seen on our travels, but they were nice and very blue.<br><br>That day, we had a bit of time to spare so we decided that we would have enough time to get a bit further up north and also find a DOC campsite we had read about. Again, winding roads, gravel and the dreaded orange petrol light ensued, but ...

... far away! Beautiful museum though :-). Walked to the pier and got an ice cream. Then went back to the hostel and played cards til Anna had to go. Said goodbye :-( to Anna. Watched tv and fell asleep.<br>14th July - Em's birthday!! Got the bus to Mount Eden. Got lost on the bus lol. We don't do buses. Went up the skytower! It's ginormously high. And has loads of glass floors so it's kind of scary! :-/!!! Then we went to the Art Gallery which was also good. There ...

... is an open rustic looking building that felt a lot like summer camp. The toilets were outdoors (though they did flush and stuff). There was a volleyball court where I was reminded that I should never play volleyball ever again. We slept in a huge bunk bed dorm. Of course, when we walked into this rustic meeting house of a lodge Outkast's "Sorry Mrs. Jackson" came on. It was hilariously followed by some "Gin and Juice ...

20.02.2009 Wir stehen auf und fahren dann den Queen Charlotte Drive entlang ueber kurvige Strassen. Es regnet wie wahnsinnig und so koennen wir leider nicht viel von der schoenen Landschaft sehen. Wir fahren bis nach Nelson, einer kleinen sehr touristischen Stadt. Wir besuchen das kleine Juweliergeschaeft, in dem der "eine Ring" entworfen und hergestellt wurde. Dann fahren wir weiter bis nach Motueka im Abel Tasman Nationalpark und checken dort im Top Ten Motorcamp ein ...

... are pretty big and that = big poo. Haha Stayed the next two night's in Marahau. Again not much there but good access in to ATNP. Got a water taxi out the next day to Bark Bay which is about 14 miles away. Then we walked all the way back to our camp!!!! More fantastic secenery with golden sand beaches and blue lagoons set amongst the bush. The colur of the Tasman sea is Turquoise and the photos will not do it justice but I tried. 7 ...

... Getting bateries charged in order to get to midnight. But before that reference hour we got ourselves a good dinner. Although we had to wait one hour for a table, once again and for a change, that decision was the best as everyone was with a pretty big smile after that Indian meal. After a group meating and a final stop at the lodge, Dodgy Ref was the chose bar for the final count-down. As expected we danced, we sang, we jumped! A ...

I'm in Nelson to begin 5 days on the Abel Tasman track along the NZ coastline. Nelson is a beautiful little city about which I'll write more after the hike. Just a pin ...

... look like they might have made the trip in 2006 or thereabouts ... then a lovely afternoon with Jason's Godson Dimitrios (Dimmo), his wife Lee and their son Lachie ... great fun - and an absolutely pristine view from their home in the hills above Tahananui

... there for about two weeks, so I am almost half way done. It is just basic costumer service and cashiering, so basically a lot like working at Old Navy. After I am done working at Kathmandu I will have about two and a half weeks to travel to the last places I have to see on the South Island, then I am heading home. The official day is going to be August third. Can't believe I only have six weeks left in New Zealand...