Westport Motor Hotel

... came to the instant decision that this is not a place you want to spend any time. We were told that the place was settled by the Irish in the mid 1840's, and as no-one else moved there, they sort of interbred. The existence of mullets is also a worry (as is the interbred features on many locals). Got chatting to an American lad who is studying history for most of the night over a few beers, but will be happy to get out of this place in the morning.

... over the wall. Also Les collected loads of hats over the years and has them hanging over the ceiling. All 45 of us were dressed in our fancy dress costumes having a good time. Rachael and Lucy were dressed as Dice, Jo and Chanelle as Parrots and Lisa as a casino girl. Honourable mentions go out to Rubiks Cube guy, Mr Swine Flu and the Balloon Man. After some beers and laughs I got in at 12:30 and chatted and had some laughs with James and Lloyd.

... am Strassenrand und irgendwann bin ich durch eine der vielen Ex-Goldgraeberstaedte gekommen, die zu einem Entdeckungsspaziergang einlud. Ich haette sogar Gold schuerfen koennen.. Und dann kam irgendwann Greymouth, wo ich bloss noch einmal einen Grosseinkauf gemacht habe, weil mein naechster Stop in einem Nationalpark liegt und es dort keinen Supermarkt gibt. Ich waere dort (im Nationalpark)gern eine Weile geblieben, aber hatte keinen Handyempfang (und ohne Kontakt zu meinem ...

... night we had joined with another kiwi bus and because the pub was so small and quirky, it was a perfect speed friendship making type environment. Within an hour of the party everyone was nicely tipsy and pulling out their special dance moves. This was either absolutely hilarious or hugely disturbing as some of the boys had chosen to dress in beach thongs... you decide! But needless to say, the poo pub definitely lived up to its unique party reputation.

... Milford, which left a few days later. We made the right decision as the next day the weather changed and the mountains were lost in mist, followed over the next few days with snow and rain. On the morning of our overnight cruise, before heading off to Milford Sound we had to hire snow chains to be allowed to drive on the road, as you can be turned back if you are not carrying any. The journey which takes about 3 hours is a stunning drive, with various points to stop, to ...

... and said it was so cold he could see his breath! - We got 2 meals on the flight and Brian had requested Kosher food which both meals came in a HUGE secure box. People were staring at us. Travel tip: if you can, request a special meal (vegetarian, kosher, etc) the food is almost always fresher. - Took a shuttle to our hostel and met a lady that told us to come stay with her in Rotorua and gave us a phone number within a matter of ...

... me a bike and i set off about 2:25pm! it took me 1hr to cycle to cape foulwind as it was 11km!!!!!! then i saw the sign for the seal colony which was another 5kms!! so i just went up to cape foulwind and started the walk to get up to the lighthouse! then decided that i had really come all this way to see the seals, so walked 1hr to get to see them along a up+down coastal track! i was knackered! the seals were amazing tho...its the largest colony in new zealand of the ...

... a marimba and an underground cathedral where you cna get married. Paul wasn´t up for it. Drove a little further that day to a town called Murchison where they have the best ice cream portions o n this planet. <Then further down the west to Westport where they have the best mini-golf on this planet. Paul fell in a pond and it was very funny.

... empty. So we filled it to the top. Went down to the garage and filled the oil and the gas. Then drove around the block a couple of times just to see if the car would be ok before we set off on a 3 hour drive. It was still making a clunky noise so we pulled over, checked the water and it was gone!! Oil had gone down again a good bit so there was nothing we could do but ring the AA. Out comes the mechanic, looking a little worse for wear of a Sunday morning. Gruff guy, a man of not so many ...

... die Haenge mit ihren Schmelzwasserfaellen zu schauen und nur das Zwitschern der Voegel und Plaetschern des Wassers um sich zu haben. Naechtens mussten wir natuerlich nochmal rein mit einer netten Schar von Iren und Schotten. Da wurde dann der mitgeschleppte Wein getrunken und feist Zigarren geraucht. Paradiesisch. Wir haben die halbe (eiskalte) Nacht in den Quellen geweicht. Am naechsten Tag dann leider nochmal die gleiche Strecke zurueck in die Zivilisation ...