L'Hotel Akaroa

... have a hot shower while I walk the 20minutes back to the motel to pick up the car and collect her.<br>Then its back to La Rochelle for hot soup to defrost!!<br><br>Thursday 19th November<br><br>Much to Em's disgust, I'm awake early and try to lay quietly until she wakes up, apparently 8.00am is still too early for her! She's not a morning person!! Sharing a room may be cheaper but boy does it have its drawbacks!! We're both looking forward to ...

Banks Peninsula sticks out into the Southern Ocean just south of Christchurch. It's formed from a couple of extinct volcanoes which through time became attached to the mainland. Captain Cook named it after his botanist, obviously the infamous Mr.Banks, though for some reason he thought it was an island. Sounds like this was a fly-by sighting as he shot down the coast on the Endeavour. These days it's the preferred holiday destination of those fleeing the hectic ...

... 12 people on it, and the water was totally flat. The mountains around the fjord are so beautiful and on the way back in a group of about 15 dolphins followed the boat and hitched a ride on the front, being pushed along by the speed of the boat. We had just moved from the top deck to the front, and had a perfect view of them, they seemed to be looking up at us as well from the water. After that we took the Southern Scenic route from Te Anau to Dunedin, through more lakes and mountains ...

... treat myself to some fish n' chips! A very traditional kiwi dinner. I got a serving of chips, and battered elephant fish. yummers! I spent an hour or two walking around, then parked in a scluded residential spot. Very relaxing start to my adventure!

... of Christchurch as well as the nations. Then, we drove to the city center and did a scavenger hunt that the staff planned for us. The goal of the scavenger hunt was to learn the city so that we would be familiar with it when we come back for outreach next week. Our group wasn't too enthused about the scavenger hunt and had a few members go their own way for a while, but we still did part of it. Other than ...

... is nice.. and went to the pub after... i went with two friends... Richard (from christchurch) and Shannon (visiting as well from Wellington)... and the best thing was the sun finally came out for the last day in NZ .... the next day i left to go to Melbourne, Aussie... k xxx

... Toen de monteur er was heb ik meegekeken naar wat hij allemaal controleerde, na samen een proefrit gemaakt te hebben was hij vrij positief. Echter bij het controleren van het koelsysteem voelde hij toch wat nattigheid. Bij het maken van een beetje toeren schuimde het spul nog erger op dan een Nederlands tapbiertje en dat samen met het verhaal van de vorige eigenaar dat de koppakking vervangen was, was voor hem voldoende om de wagen af te raden. De heuvelachtige wegen in NZ zouden ...

... to come home as living out of a bag and moving on from place to place was pretty knackering! We have travelled 8 countries and have taken more than 2,900 photos and we have covered more than 25,000 miles! I am sure you'll agree that it has been a great adventure. We both agree that it is very hard to name a favourite place but we think it comes between Croatia and New Zealand and we encourage you all to venture forth and travel ...

... you see, backpackers post up ads at all hostels to try and sell before leaving for their next leg... our van was perfect! a 1994 Nissan Vanette... the van is VERY blue... it comes with a twin bed in the back, pots/pans/utensils, a gas stove, books, hot water bottle, thermos, mug, a six pack of coronas, some wine, a sleeping bag, curtains, etc... everything we would need for driving around NZ... the only real way to see NZ, i might add... we bought her from a south ...

... get at this girls fish and chips but one of the gulls was shouting (squawking???) at them to get back. It was like he was in charge and he had his bird (literally) beside him not saying (squawking???) a word (squawk???) but equally in charge. It was like the couple in Pulp Fiction. Anyone of you mother f*#ker$ move and I'll execute every mother f*#king last one of you. I called it "Gull Fiction". Fiona ...