Monday 23 February If we thought that Sunday morning was chilly, we started Monday with 2.3*C on the external thermometer at 8am - ridiculous when it's still officially summer for 5 more days! Had to wear many layers on the expedition to the long drop - which was fortunate as someone had left the lids up and the toilets reeked so my scarf doubled as a gas mask! Stinky long drop time! Shut the lid, people!!! To think when I bought this pasmina at the Vinnies in Hokitika (just

Sunday 22 February We may not have summer temperatures - 3*C on waking up at 7.30ish - but as the sun broke through the air soon warmed up, though not the lake waters! Abby & Jez were busy researching their next Moho upgrade when 4 of their favoured brand, TrailLite, rolled into camp so they quickly made friends and got a chance to inspect the various options! Meanwhile, we packed the kayak in the boot of RUSSF and set off to the far side of the lake by the hot pools. Pumped

Saturday 21 February A big day out up the east side of Lake Tekapo - driving up to the Macaulay & Godley Rivers that feed the beautiful glacial aquamarine waters of the lake. We piled into RUSSF & ELLAMY, let down the ELLAMY airbags and bounced off down Lilybank Road towards the head of the lake. Misty grey morning skies gave way to scraps of blue, with white dappled cloud, as we drove up the lake through amazing scenery. About halfway up, after crossing an optional ford for

Friday 20 February After three nights at our most expensive campground to date ($80 per night) the rainbow blessed us with a beautiful backdrop but no pot of gold, so we moved on to Tekapo NZMCA via the most scenic of routes - down and round Lake Pukaki, across the high plains and down to Tekapo. Pulled into the NZMCA and managed to find a spot where Banjo, the FernandiVan and the Moho could all park up together - but we did have to shepherd the Grey Duck family out of the wa

Thursday 19 February It was a working morning for Russ and we were all still a tad tired from lots of Alpine walking on the previous two days, so we chilled at Glentanner, making the most of the facilities, taking long showers and doing the laundry (though the wind did its best to blow all our washing off the line!) After lunch we set off up the valley to visit the Tasman Glacier Lake. The sun was working hard to warm us and burn off the cloud cover - but was not entirely su

Wednesday 18 February After a windy night, the day dawned cloudy but golden, with every chance that the sun would burn through. Russ swapped his timings for the day so he and Louis could climb the Sealy Tarns track - 2200 stairs ascending to 1380m at the top of the range above the Mueller Glacier Lake. My knees ached just at the thought of all that, and Nickie was feeling tender from the Kepler Track walk so we left the boys to it, and tried to spot the micro-dots ascending

Tuesday 17 February A blustery night by the canal - we woke & watched the ducks & gulls across at the salmon farm. Russ had work to for the morning and Louis wanted to work on some video footage, so Nickie & I went off exploring. Got as far as the Ōmarama Clay Cliffs turning only to discover it was closed due to road upgrades. So we doubled back and headed to Lake Ōhau instead. It was cloudy and grey but the sausages of cloud around the lake were fabulous. Driving up to Lake

Monday 16 February After a very busy weekend with the Websters it was time to move on - destination Ohau B NZMCA. The FernandiVan left first, heading for Tarras in time for a work conference call and breakfast at the fab cafe there. We pulled out shortly after them and hit the pharmacy & supermarkets in Alex before joining them in Tarras for coffee and Louis’ obligatory pastrami pretzel roll followed by the Tarras sign selfie! Our route took us over the Lindis Pass (chilly at

Sunday 15 February We’d seen the epic cycle track along the western shore of Lake Dunstan from Cromwell to Clyde (or vice versa) so many times as we drove down SH8 on the eastern shore, and watched dozens of reels about it… today was our day to conquer it! Another Great Ride - this one goes from Cromwell to Clyde or vice versa and is an Intermediate Grade 3 due to the narrow winding paths and steep drop offs - yikes! We left from the Cromwell Heritage District with Nickie & R

Saturday 14 February The bumpiest road trip! Jonny & Debs took off to Queenstown for the day and their visitors piled into RUSSF and headed to Symes Road to climb Old Man Range to visit Kopuwai/The Old Man/The Obelisk. The road up the range starts off gently then gets steeper & rockier, winding up the mountainside. Many gates as it crosses assorted farms & properties, and we met some beautiful red cows. The view from the top was pretty special - looking east over Alexandra, C

Friday 13 February A night of rain and a muddy morning - Russ did a couple of hours of work & we all packed up, said farewell to Abby as she went back to Dunedin and we cruised out of Tasman Holiday Park comfortably before their 10am checkout time - but only after I had captured a montage of the beautiful blooms all around the holiday park. The road took us south for a bit then across on all manner of rural roads to SH8 towards Roxburgh. We stopped for lunch at Must-Hang Dine

Thursday 12 February Chilly but glorious morning with the sun highlighting the tops of the mountains beside the camp. We packed up and hit the road at 10 with a busy logistical day ahead. Gorgeous drive back to Te Anau and a very accommodating call with Tasman Holiday Parks who said ignore the 2pm check-in & just turn up whenever! 😊 So we did, then whizzed over to Manapouri NZMCA to collect the FernandiVan & Abby’s car. Found a lovely note on the windscreen from Lindsay & D

Wednesday 11 February A big day out on the Milford Road again - sunshine after the rain, and time to just potter wherever took our fancy. Sunshine on the mountain tops, then low sausages of cloud clearing from the valleys. Tui, weka, honk wahs and chaffinches all around the camp. We set off around 10am in search of kea and waterfalls. First stop, the reflections on Lake Gunn which were stunning, then on to Monkey Creek - no kea - and along to the Homer Tunnel. One kea perched

Tuesday 10 February After two rather lovely days, the “weather watch” hit, with rain, rain & more rain! Had a lie in 🦁, did some blogging 💻 and just chilled 😎 all morning then after lunch, packed up, left via the supermarket & the dump station (what goes in, must come out! 🫢) then hit the Milford Road again - this time through cloud & lashing rain. 🌧️ Set up at Cascade Creek in a fairly unswampy space and had a sneaky snack of toasted buns & marmalade because the day d

Monday 9 February After lots of packing, checking, rearranging and caravan logistics we were off! Daypack for us and three large packs for the Fernandi. They have 3 overnights in huts and a 60km walk - we were just accompanying them on the first 5km to Brod Bay. A lovely day to start the walk - blue skies, sunshine and the gentlest of breezes. Met these two lovely American (?) ladies and took their Kepler Track start photo for them - turns out we are all breast cancer survivo

Sunday 8 February Sometimes you don’t need to go to Milford Sound - you just need to take a road trip along the Milford Road on a beautiful (if chilly day) and enjoy the amazing sights in the sunshine. So much to see - we packed a picnic and set off at 8am, with clouds low and drifting up out of the valleys. Te Anau Downs, where Nickie & Russ will catch a boat to start their Milford Track walk next month, was the first stop, then on via a few small DOC camps, pausing at Totar

Saturday 7 February A quiet day after the long drive - lots of rain and grey skies so we chilled all morning, headed into Te Anau just before lunch to check out the Hospice op shop and a few other stores. Louis found a pie shop that was apparently Miles Better... so that was lunch sorted for 3/4 of us. On the way back we went to visit the Takahe at the bird sanctuary and met one family with their chonky brown chick. Then we swung by the "Three Wee Bookshops at the End of the

Friday 6 February After 4 nights at Albert Town and with Russ on leave for Waitangi Day, we were set to board our whare-waka and set sail southish on the long journey to Manapouri. Louis and I popped into Scroggin again to stock up with amazing croissants for lunch 🥐 (Pembroke Patisserie was closed for the holiday but somehow Scroggin had a fresh delivery of their amazing pastries!) then we said sad farewells to Albert Town and swung by McKeowns to fill up with diesel befor

Thursday 5 February Red sky in the morning - kayakers warning! But it all seemed fine… We hitched up Banjo and towed her carefully to Wānaka Auto Services as one of her brake cables had come detached. Fortunately the other three were all good and our anti-sway kit was compensating for this failure, but fixing it was beyond our skills! Popped down into town for brekkie at Scroggin; it was warm inside so we moved outside and watched the sparrows helping clean up the dirty plat

Wednesday 4 February Finally! It may have been a chilly morning, but the sun was out, the skies were blue and the day promised greatness! Took a cheeky stroll up to Pembroke Patisserie for a late breakfast, breaking both my low-carb & intermittent fasting rules 😳 - but boy was it worth it?! Delicious pastries all round, and Nickie struck up a conversation with the girl behind the counter all about open water swimming - based on her sweatshirt! We posed by the Albie Tavern in