A great couple of days to relax, enjoy a warm comfortable bed. Lovely walking around managed woodland. Got to the top of the track to find the bridge was washed out by last weeks heavy rains!! Saturday afternoon, boys, including Daniel, enjoyed a ride around the town in Pedal cars. Then off to the Sulphur pools for a dip - POOH are they smelly!!!

We left Methven this morning and drove to Christchurch. When we picked up our rental car we drove past "Antarctic Adventure" We decided that we should check this place out. This is the place where the US, Italian and New Zealand teams leave from for their trips to the Antarctic. They have customs and a special airport for these teams. Next to t...

We had a cold first night and woke to a cool but fine morning. We went for a walk to the beach after breakfast and then hit the road. We've rented a "Kruse" commentary system for pick-up with the Motorhome, which is GPS guided and narrates information about each place of significance along the way including Maori myths and legends etc, which we ...

Day 15 - On to Hanmer Springs - ~275 km with some backtracking - Aspen Lodge Motel - NZ$125 We sleep in for once, since breakfast is not until 9. Phil has to cook, as Vicky has gone home to Omarama to visit her family. He does a wonderful job - sausages, streaky bacon, more of those lovely orange-yolked eggs we've come to expect, a fried tomato,...

hmmm. hanmer springs was definitely an adventure. bryce and i took our new car (aptly named jerome because he's french) up to the town of hanmer for a hike and a soak in the hot pools. after a great hike to dog creek falls, we went to hot springs and made an amazing dinner at a cool little DOC campsite. the next morning we packed the car and pro...

We're in Hanmer springs and the weather is fantastic. Its actually pretty warm for the first time in this country. The weather so far hasnt been great but it hasnt dampened our spirits. Not much to tell about this place, its a lovely little town, we've pikeyed it up in mountain view top 10. The town is full of lovely little restaurants and pubs ...