What did we like best about our trip? Well, it's hard to choose. I think the Marlborough Sounds was the most beautiful place we stayed, followed as a close second by Ursula & Peter's home - the Coromandel. The best accommodation I think was Hopewell (Marlborough Sounds) for sheer friendliness, simplicity and relaxation; Baycrest Motel [...]
Our first flight doesn't leave until 7.30pm so we're slightly in limbo. Check out of Hotel SO and arrange to leave our bags in a secure place at Cathedral Square. We grab a last delicious NZ brekkie and then mooch around the shops for a bit. Take the tram ride again - twice! By this [...]
Well our last full day in New Zealand has been a long one! We were up early and then off on our day of museum tours. Our bus was late and picked us up at 9.20am and then we went to the Royal New Zealand Air Force museum. We started with a behind the scenes [...]
Well we're onto our last few days holiday now so we've got to make the most of it. I forgot to mention that our trendy hotel room doesn't have a window (it's a bit like a very luxury prison) so consequently got up today and put on a cotton dress and went outside and it [...]
We check out of the Anchor Inn motel today. Dump our stuff at the train station and then wander around the town - there's not a whole lot to do when only have a few hours before the train leaves so look at the shops, walk along the beach and visit the Kaikoura Museum which [...]
Well the dolphin encounter didn't quite end up as planned. We set our alarm clock for 4.50am and I didn't even mind getting up then because I was so excited. We had a cup of tea and then left for the centre again (in the pitch black this time). We are checked in straight away [...]
Up at 6.30am ready for our trip! The skies are clear and the sun is coming out as we walk down to the Dolphin Encounter centre. Have breakfast and wait to go out on our trip. Disaster strikes. The Dolphin Encounter rep tells us that the sea conditions are very bad. The rain yesterday has [...]
Wake to heavy rain. Lynley had warned us last night that the weather forecast was bad and if the floatplane couldn’t fly we’d need to get the water taxi. As the visibility is terrible it’s pretty obvious this is what we’ll need to do. What a shame! I was really looking forward to another journey [...]
Woke to an overcast day – it’s disappointing but at least it’s not raining. Decide to go for a walk around the Sound. There’s a one and a half hour trail to follow but it takes us just under an hour. It’s a beautiful route through dense vegetation with the water below us and the [...]
Slept for nearly 12 hours! Had breakfast and then set off kayaking. I’ve never kayaked before: it’s not difficult but it makes your arms ache like hell when you’re not used to it. We kayaked across the bay to the cafe opposite – it’s supposed to be 45 minutes away but took me about double [...]