The Ashley Hotel Greymouth

Wow, this place gets better and better. There's no question that South Island beats North Island hands down for scenery based on what we've seen today. Many miles driven (320km) but we took lots of breaks along the way so it didn't feel too bad.<br><br>Started the morning in Nelson, a bit cool and overcast as we abandoned our motel and went in search of breakfast. A big cafe called "Lambretta's" was doing good business and looked very cool, so they hooked us ...

... was most informative.<br>The Canterbury Museum had a diverse collection from Native animals and birds to Antarctica and its exploration and a superb examination of kiwi icons and the Fred and Myrtles Paua Shell House<br>This is a recreation of the personal effort of a couple from Bluff south of Invercargill who collected, polished and displayed paua shells in their own home and opened their home ...

... After my disapoinment, I kept on driving and singing to the same songs I've had for the past year. I now know every word to George Micheal's "wake me up before you go go". As I was laying down some killer beats, I went past a sign on the side of the highway advertising worm cave tours. I pulled a u-ey to see what it was all about. It cost $140 for 4 hours of the cave tour, glow worms and rafting, plus your photo's! I was stoked. I asked when the next tour would ...

Punakaiki. Nu er vi taget vest på, hvor der efter guide bøgernes beskrivelser skulle regne hele tiden. Men her er vejret også fantastisk. Vi har tilbragt dagen med en kanotur på Punakaiki River, hvor vi kæmpede hårdt med lavvande i floden. (Bettina lærte lidt om navigation på vandet - men lur mig ...

... that is where the train stopped... and I stayed because the Monteith's brewery was there. Montieth's Black is New Zealands black nectar. Neptunes is an excellent hostel. The building isn't that new, but they actually make an effort. All beds are actual beds - no bunks. Each has fresh linen, a towel, some soap, and a mint laid out on it. There is free pool and sky in the lounge downstairs, and free tea and coffee in the kitchen. And at 4pm every day ...

... Global warming doesn't appear to be affecting Franz Joseph.Walked up to the terminal wall which is around a 3km hike from the car park. Along the trail I stopped first at Sentinel Rock which offers great views of the glacier from an elevated position. This massive rock was once covered by the glacier and now sits a couple of kilometres from the terminal wall. As I approached the glacier there were warning signs everywhere saying don't go any further due to the unstable ice so ...

Pancakes and Blowholes Wednesday 10th September After yet another night of constant rain we were not too keen on the Kayak option, but hurriedly ate a cooked breakfast of beans, toast, bacon and egg to ensure we had the energy supplies if required while we watched to see if the rain would abate. Sadly it did not so we decided it was best to move out, after sneaking into a campsite and ...

... and the new learner driver Rich (Rip) came with us... at one point we were all offered some hops to try, they were rank and I only had half of a sliver, we made Rich eat half a handful, he vommed not surprisingly, at the end of the tour we got to try all of the beers that they make and then pour our own drinks - awesome, afterwards we got an all you can eat BBQ at the local pub and Lauran the driver came and had some drinks with us, ended up ...