Saturday 3 January

I've jumped ahead a little. Tonight Steve and I are staying in a backpackers called Glow Worm Cottages, Franz Josef. I'm not sure how to use their Internet facility so I am just going to wing it. Also, because I am taking pics on high resolution they just take for ever to down load. The picture to the left is of Steve on the shore of the Tasman Sea, West Coast, South Island. The pebbles in New Zealand are beautiful. From Rotorua we traveled to Wellington. We loved Wellington. Very Mediteranean. The Te Papa (museum) was so informative. We took a tram car to their Botanical Gardens. They were beautiful too.

We flew from north to south island over the Cook Strait. As a surprise I booked the co-pilot seat for Steven on the 12 seater plane. He was chuffed and thoroughly enjoyed sitting next to the pilot and watching him at work. The views of Marlborough Sound were awesome. I hope to post them when I can find an Internet service I can work with.

When on the north island we had New Years in the Marlborough wine region. We hired bikes and pedalled our way around the wineries. It was ever so windy and with a few wines in our belly it was a wobbly ride back to the motel. We ate in an Italian/Seafood restaurant dining on scallops and mussels. Didn't see midnight though.

New Years day we drove along the Pacific Ocean coast to Kaikouri. I'd organised another surprise for Steve. A swim with dusky dolphins. We took a boat and traveled 20 mins out to sea until the skipper found a pod of dolphins. There were 100's of them. Steve slid himself off the back of the boat and was surrounded by the most playful water creatures I have ever seen. I'm thrilled he had such a great time. It was magnificent watching the dolphins jump, somersault and glide beside him. When I find good fast facilities I will post the pics.

January 2 we drove inland to Hanmer Springs for a dip in the natural thermal pools in an alpine region. We had our first experience in a backpackers. Steve found it a little weird sharing a house and bathroom facilities with strangers. But they were all cool with it and we survived.

We are having a ball!!!! There is so much excitement, adventure and indulgence in New Zealand. Every other moment their is something different to see. I am exhausted. I don't want to miss a moment. So I'm in bed late and up early. It does not get dark until 9.30 here.

We are currently in Franz Josef the glacier region of the Westland. Unbelievable. We are in t shirts and shorts yet not far away are mountains covered in ice and snow. Tomorrow we hope to helicopter up to the summit of Fox Glacier and Mt Cook with a snow landing. I'll sign off now and trying to add some pics. Thanks for reading I hope to add some more of our exciting adventure.

To the right Franz Josef glacier (awesome!)