Around the world with Gary & Tracy

Dear All

We have had our camper van for a week now and enjoying it very much though space is at a premium and we have to be super tidy (not a problem for Gary!!). We are currently in Te Anau and yesterday we took a trip to Milford Sound. The weather was awful but as it rains 2 out of every 3 days there, it was to be expected. We did a cruise through Milford Sound for a few hours and got to see some amazing waterfalls up close. The rain and wind send the waterfalls backwards which was quite some sight. The Sounds are part of an enormous national park stretching millions of acres. It is hard to describe the scale of the area. Today we went to see a film which has been made about the Sounds over a 5 year period. It was fantastic and does give you a good idea of the enormity of the area. Luckily for you we have bought the DVD and will bore you all with it when we get back!! We leave for Glenorchy tomorrow where Tracy is hoping to do some more horse riding (Gary has declined further equestrian activities after his Easter Island experience).

We would certainly recommend a camper van for anyone coming here, it gives you great freedom and the camp sites are fantastic though you can also just stop in lots of places and stay overnight.

The weather is intermittently getting warmer but varies from area to area.

Well, thats it for now, we are just off to the wildlife centre and to buy a skipping rope as we both getting a trifle plump!

Lots of love to you all. Miss you.

Tracy & Gary xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi All

Greetings from Kaikoura

We have been here a few days now, its our first taste of the South Island. For the first 2 days the weather was appalling, freezing cold and raining incessantly. On the day of our whale watching trip, it was completely clear with blue, blue sky and very warm. The whale watching was at times extremely frustrating as we kept arriving just as the whale dived. However, persistence paid off and we got to see 3 whales on the surface. The one in this picture was known to the crew as Little Nick, another was called Big Nick and the other one was not known to them. You can see how huge Little Nick is from the photo! We also got to see a pod of about 100 Dusky Dolphins which was great.

Unfortunately our plans to go swimming with Dusky Dolphins tomorrow have had to be shelved as the weather is forecast to take a turn for the worst. Hopefully we will instead be able to go swimming with Hector Dolphins off the coast near Christchurch. Hector Dolphins are only found in New Zealand and are extremely rare with only about 1000 left.

We are staying in really good accommodation here with magnificent views. Tomorrow Gary is hoping to sample the crayfish when we go for a walk round the penninsula.

We pick the camper van up on Friday and our first stop after that will be Timaru.

Hope you are all well, thinking of you all.

Lots of love
Tracy & Gary xxxxxxxxxxx

ps enjoying New Zealand very much - they have vegimite scrolls here!!

Hi All

We have jsut spent 5 days in Wellington which is a lovely city. There are more bars, cafes and restaurants here than in New York apparantly, we can believe it! We have only sampled a tiny minority of them. We went to a comedy club last night which was really good and have seen plenty of live music. Gary has been to 2 poker nights at local pubs and nearly made it to the final table, one place away.

Today we went to Te Papa museum which was magnificent. We spent 4 hours in there and still didn't see everything. It was excellent and free!!

The only downside of Wellington is the wind - it is windy everyday and feels much colder than Napier.

Tomorrow morning at 8am we leave for kaikoura, we are catching a tiny 10 seater plane. Gary can't wait he had so much fun last time we were in a small plane when we flew to the Grand Canyon, he can't wait to repeat the experience.

We have booked Whale Watching www.whalewatch.co.nz and also have booked to go swimming with dolphins www.dolphin.co.nz Should be interesting.

Well, thats it for now, we must go and pack. 5 months into our trip already and the time is flying in New Zealand.

Hope you are all well, thinking of you and miss you all.

Lots of love

Tracy & Gary xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi All

Well here we are in Napier which is a small seaside place famous for its art deco buildings which were built after Napier was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931. It is very beautiful and in an area called Hawkes Bay which is known for its wineries and fine food.

Yesterday we borrowed bicycles from the hostel where we are staying and rode to a chocolate factory and two wineries for some wines tasting. In the first winery, Church Road, we did a tour of the winery before we did some wine tasting which was really interesting. Its wine tasting in style here as its free and you are given about 12 wines to taste. After the first one, we wobbled off on our bikes to the next one called Mission Estate Winery www.missionestate.co.nz which is the oldest in Napier. 13 wines later, we discovered that the only place in the UK they export wine, is Le Bon Vin on Brightside Lane in Sheffield www.lebonvin.co.uk

What a coincidence! Its a great wine merchants so if you live in Sheffield, go and check it out and if you see some Mission Estate wine then you will know we have been to the winery in New Zealand. Its good wine so get a bottle and have a toast thinking of us!

Today we have had a game of mini golf which Gary won of course. He is missing sport, both playing and watching and hopefully we have found somewhere to get a game of tennis tomorrow. Its not easy when you are on the move all the time to find places to do things. Hopefully he will get chance to watch some football soon.

We leave here on Sunday to go to Wellington for a few days which will be the last place we visit in the North. Tonight we hope to catch a live band in a local bar, should be fun.

Thats all for now, missing you all, send us some sporting news to keep us updated.

Lot of love

Tracy and Gary xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx