Hi folks,

a quick update from Kiwi land. Sorry it's been a few days but we've been largely out of e.mail/phone contact.....that's our excuse and we're sticking to it!

Whale watching in Kaikoura happened early in the morning (a struggle to get up at 6am!), and we were treated to sightings of two sperm whales and some very acrobatic Hector's dolphins (indigenous to NZ and the smallest of their species). They were like Zebedee, jumping out of the water vertically and then back down the way they came, as if on springs......very cute & entertaining.

We the headed north up to Blenheim, staying two nights at the camping ground that rates high in our new competition for "the land that time forgot" - very kitch, 70s style and somewhat ramshackle...... but hey, at least they had power and shower (even if you did have to trade a new 20cent piece for an ancient one in order to operate the 6 minute shower!!).

Blenheim is a major centre for wineries, but we arrived too late in the day on Saturday to join a tour. Being really conscientious good Christians we did the only possible thing - forwent our trip to church in favour of a winery and wine tasting tour!!! We haven't been struck by lightning yet, so maybe God has a sense of humour. Well, Jesus did turn water into wine, so it's obviously important stuff.

We sniffed, swilled and swallowed (no, we didn't spit!) and now we know all there is to know about wine (NOT!). We had a great guide (all to ourselves as nobody else was mad enough to rock up for a 10am tour) and she helped to increase our knowledge a little bit at least.

From there we headed up to Abel Tasman Nat'l Park, the smallest NP in NZ and at the northern end of south island. It really was the back of beyond, the end of the road (literally), no street lights, only one shop, pub closed for winter etc etc... The next day I (linda) got a water taxi (FAB speed boat ride) and went up into the park for a "tramp" as they call it here. The walk was about 12k of up & down forest tracks, including walks along beaches, watching fur seals playing in shallow turquoise waters :-) , being eaten alive by sandflies :-( and generally having a good old route march past waterfalls, over a big rope bridge etc etc. Pen was feeling icky, so stayed behind and rested :-( but is fine now - hurrah!

After our two nights there we started to head down the West coast where the coastline becomes dramatically different - more rugged and windswept, bigger waves, bit more like the North Sea really, but different!!?!

We picked up our first hitchhiker y'day - how exciting! He was a young German guy, and it was quite funny having an extra person strapped in all the way at the back of the van whilst we were all the way up at the front. We almost felt like tour guides looking after our little passenger, but it was a good experience. Hitchhiking's really common in NZ and very safe, don't worry Linda's Mum & Pen's Dad!!

We stayed last night at another "Land that Time forgot" site right by the sea, with the waves almost lapping at our wheels. Lovely but blumming cold during the night.....Linda's just bought a hot water bottle!

We've had absolutely amazing weather since picking up the van - blue skies, sun, calm conditions etc..... it's been fantastic to see the mountain ranges with little tufty clouds swirling around the peaks, some with snow, all vast and large and majestic. We've seen lots of birds of prey, watched seals sunning themselves on the rocks, enjoyed amazing sunsets, beaches and generally having a wonderful time exploring the south island under our steam.

We're now in Greymouth catching up on chores, spending hours on the internet trying to sort our lives out and restocking the fridge. We love having our van, it was a great move on our part. We'd have gone mad spending another 3 1/2 weeks with "Stray"!

Once we leave here, we're heading down to Franz Josef Glacier region, where we'll probably stay 2 or 3 nights. Watch this space to see what we get up to...... but we do hope it'll include a glass of wine whilst we recline in the heated spa at our campsite with the glacial mountains in the background.........hard life, but someone's got to do it!

Anyway, this was going to be a short entry, but leaving it for several days means there's lots to say.

Till next time, blog dudes,

love from Penny & Linda xx