My trip to the Antipodes

Hi, "Howarrya", the usual Kiwi greeting.

Around the pretty "french" town of Akaroa, there is the remains of a large but long extinct volcano, the centre of which has been flooded by the sea and the surounding rim now well vegetated with forest and pasture and with spectacular views in all directions. The whole thing is known as The Banks Peninsula.

The Banks Peninsula track turned out to be a wonderful icing to my New Zealand cake. Carolyn had suggested the curcuit and I'm so ...

OK! Left Queenstown about 3 pm to drive as far up the west coast as we could before dark. Managed to get to Fox Glacier before 9. Blooming long way but still a long way to go to get up top Able Tasman. On the way picked up charming young lady, Meg (Megan) who was hoping to get a couple of hours further up the coast. We dropped her in Fox Glacier village and set off to get some sunset photos of Mount Cook. Later met her again in the pub and she bought me a pint. She had just finished "Gui...

Hi again.

Waiting for Anke to get loaded up so logged back on and found out how to read comments from Amanda, stef n David!  Thanks all. Great encouragement. David, i wasn't aware that my salute to the camera indicated VW, I thought that it was Walls Ice-Cream.... age difference you see.

In such a hurry after my trip to Stewart Island that I forgot to mention Bluff Lodge. Bloody brilliant "Backpackers" that catered so well for a tired old man. First call, on the wat to St...

Time is starting to flash by all too quickly. Just enjoyed a fab two days onboard MV TUKOKO courtesy of Richard and Mandy  , and their helper, Sarah

10 guests, and what a lovely mixture.. Claudia from Switzerland, Paul from halifax, Nove Scotia, Clare and Ivan from Hampshire. The lovely family of Les, Sylvia ang golf mad son Mark.  And Vanessa and Greg from California who let us into the secret tthat they are expecting to be parents in 6 months time.

All were very go...

Time is starting to flash by all too quickly. Just enjoyed a fab two days onboard MV TUKOKO courtesy of Richard and Mandy  , and their helper, Sarah

10 guests, and what a lovely mixture.. Claudia from Switzerland, Paul from halifax, Nove Scotia, Claire and Ivan from Hampshire. The lovely family of Les, Sylvia ang golf mad son Mark.  And Vanessa and Greg from California who let us into the secret tthat they are expecting to be parents in 6 months time.

All were very good ...

Hi everyone!

Stewart Island needs to be revisited to do the job properly. I met a yound lad from Leipzig who had just completed a 10 day lone hike around the island carrying all his own food, carefully planned, for the trip. The wilderness and scenery were, in his opinion, wild and very special. Another young and very fit young lady had done a six day tramp in similar vein. Donald eat your heart out.

The first day there I was able to limp around a few miles of the island and v...

Hi Folks

Have just uploaded afew more pictures. Had to stop as it is already very late but also, my camera battery is now flat. So you'll have to wait again for next loading.

Hairy trip back off Stewart Island today. Really Roaring Forties.

Up to Te Anue tomorrow first thing. Picking up Hans, to give him a lift.

Doubtful Sound Wednesday/Thursday

Will be in touch..    Grandad

Hi All

Stewart Island, one hours fastcat ferry from Bluff and on the dege of the roaring forties.

Sun yesterday but wind and rain with thunder rumbling around today. Lovely bays within short walks of the hotel and this morning took the 5 minute ferry to Ulva Island, a nature reserve recognised for its birdlife. Little or no fear of man, the birds flit around the semi-tropical rain forest and check you out. I was hoping to get a view of Kiwi, usually nocturnal, but on Ulva...