Hi. Today is Saturday and we've arrived in Christchurch for the last couple of days before returning home. I can't believe the time has gone so fast.

On Thursday we were still in Queenstown and I had a quiet day. I spent the morning relaxing and then did a cruise on a steamer to a place called Walter's Peak Homestead where we had a wine tasting session. On our return to Queenstown we met up with a few others in the Irish pub and relaxed some more.

On Friday we travelled slowly to a place called Omaramu. we stopped at a few places on the way for coffee and lunch including a place called Arrowtown where they experienced a goldrush in the late 19th century. We also stopped to look at the bridge where "bungy" jumping was invented. People were in fact jumping but I managed to resist the impulse to have a go. We then had a night in a lovely hotel in Omaramu which is a small place with only a few shops, a pub, 2 garages and 2 hotels. One of the shops was amazing. The owner has collected load of stuff from the past which is for sale and he also has original costumes and things from the TV programme "Xena. Warrior Princess". Pretty weird. So we all had a quiet night in the hotel/pub.

Taday has seen us drive to Christchurch. On the way we stopped at a place to see Mt Cook which is the highest mountain in new Zealand. I hope it comes out on the attached photo.We arrived at about 4.20 and I popped out to do this blog.

I'm setting off for home on Monday and going via Hong Kong so I'm not sure when that means I'll be back in Manchester but it will be early next week. There is a plan to visit a place called the Antarctic Museum tomorrow where on of the attractions is to go in a room for a few seconds to sample the sort of temperatures they experience in the Antarctic. I think I'll wait until I'm back home.

So this will probably be my last entry on the blog and I hope you've enjoyed it. See you soon.

Ray

Hi again. Today is Wednesday and I've been through a lot since I last blogged. From where I left off last time we did eventually arrive in Christchurch. We had time to eat near the hotel and then have a little nightcap before turning in.

The next day was Monday and we had a 7.30 start to join the Trans Alpine Express. This was a really scenic journey which took us over the Southern Alps. We got off in a place called Arthur's Pass and rejoined the coach. (If you look closely at the first picture you should be able to see part of the train as we were making our journey.)

The coach made a couple of stops for meals and snacks and we arrived in a place called Franz Josef Glacier. I volunteered to be in the first group to take a helicopter trip up on to the top of the glacier. This turned out to be a good decision as the weather closed in and no other groups could go after us. Anyway the flight and the scenery was spectacular. We had a few minutes to get out of the helicopter and walk around. It was surprisingly warm.

The next day(Tuesday) we left at 7.45 for the journey to Queenstown. I've not attached any photos for this day as I have limited space but it was still a tremendously scenic journey through temperate rainforest with huge mountains and squillions of lakes to marvel at. On arrival at Queenstown a few of us hurried of to take a gondola(cable car) trip to the top of the mountain overlooking Queenstown. There was a terrific view from the top.

Today, Wednesday has probably been the highest of all the highs I've enjoyed so far on the trip. We left early for a long coach trip to a place called Milford Sound. Once we got there we embarked on a boat for a 2 and a half hour trip around the sound. The scenery was magnificent with gigantic mountains rising out of the sea. I've attached one photo but I don't think any number of photos can come close doing justice to the sheer beauty of the place.

Once we docked most of us had opted to take a flight back to Queenstown. Apparently this option normally isn't possible as the weather prevents the flights from taking off. However we were lucky and were able to fly and the final photo is from this flight. The morning coach ride had taken about 4 and a half hours as the coach has to go around the mountains. However the plane which was a small Cessna, flew over the mountains and we were back in an hour. It goes without saying that the views were stupendous although a little part of me was worried that there would be no place to land if anything happened to the tichy plane I was in.

Anyway here I am safely back in Queenstown updating the blog. The plan for this evening is to visit a little Irish pub that we found to enjoy good food, a coupl of pints of KilKenny ale, and a live "diddlee dee" band. I'm hopeful it will be a fun night.

Bye for now.

NZ Trip.

Hi. It is Sunday today and we are enjoying temperatures of about 27 degrees and loads of sunshine.

The "hangi" went really well. The food was delicious and the NZ wine was excellemt. As part of the Maroi display they showed us a Haka. They then got some of us up to do it along with them. Terrific fun.

On Friday we had a long drive down to Wellington. Even though this meant a long time on the bus we stopped at various places along the way. Including Haku falls, a deserted ghost town and a town called Foxton which just seems to be full of people running eccentric businesses.

We arrived in Wellington late afternoon and went on a scary ride up Mt Victoria from where we could see the whole of the city. In the evening a few of us went into town. Had a bit to eat and then found a great Welsh pub to have a couple of beers.

Yesterday we got on a ferry and travelled to the South Island. The trip was a little windy and cold but the scenery travelling down to a place called Picton through Queen Charlotte sound was majestic. We then spent some time in Picton and a couple of us took the oppotunity to take a paddle. It was blissful.

We then travelled to a town called Blenheim and got ready for a meal at a local winery. The winery is owned by a firm called Montana and as well as providing us with lovely food we also had the chance to sample some excellent wines.

Today we are travelling down to Christchurch. We are on the coast road which provides brilliant views over deep blue seas and on the other side up to rugged mountains. We are 4 or 5 hours away from Christchurch but I'm expecting the time to fly because of the scenery and the company.

Bye for now.

Hi there.

It's now Thursday and we're in Rotarua. Here's a quick update on what we've been up to.

Once we arrived in Auckland and transferred to our hotel, we quickly got ready and walked down to the harbour. We had a relax looking around and a little sit in a harbour bar. We then strolled back to the hotel and had a little rest prior to enjoying a meal as a big group in the hotel restaurant. After this I had a couple of drinks but I thinbk everyone went to bed by 10.00pm as we were very tired.

However we were up bright and early next day as our coach left at 9.00am for a tour of Auckland. We went up the highest point of the city which is Mount Eden and took in the lovely views. We then drove around various places arond the coast and stopped in a place called Mission Bay before visiting the museum. We then returned to the hotel.

Once again it was to have a quick refresh and then I was one of a group of 4 who caught a ferry to a lovely island called Devonport. We had a stroll around and something to eat before returning to the hotel.

On Wednesday morning we left Aukland and headed for Rotarua. On the way we visited the Waitomo caves and had a trip on a boat to see glow worms which live on the ceiling of the caves. This was magical but I can't share this with you as we were not allowed to take photos.

We then continued on to Rotarua where I enjoyed a fantastic flight over the lakes and volcanoes of the area. Not all of the group went on this and I ended up on what is known as the small plane with 3 others. I think this worked to our advantage as we could very easily see out of both sides of the plane. If everything works OK with the photos you'll see the crater of Mt. Tarawera(Burnt Spear) which last erupted in 1886. All of this was absolutely stunning.

We then transferred to the hotel which is very close to a place imaginatively entitled Sulphur Point. For once I'm glad that I don't have a good sense of smell but the others are saying that you get used to it.

On Thursday, which is today we went to see a geyser and mudpools etc at a place called Te Puia.(In NZ they pronounce geyser to rhyme with tizer rather than teaser). We were shown round by a maoiri guide who was excellent. Informative and amusing. I hope the photo I've attached gives an idea of how amazing the place is.Some free time now before we enjoy a meal at the hotel tohight which is cooked in the maori style of digging a hole; filling it with white hot stones; putting the food in baskets amongst the stones and then covering it over with earth to steam cook it. This is called "hangi". We will then watch a traditional maori dance/celebration.

After we leave here we'll be doing a series of one night stays so I may not be able to update you for a few days.

Bye for now.

We are in Auckland now and I amable to upload some of the photos we've taken over the last few days.

Here we have views of HK harbour at night and then there is the view of HK taken from the peak, I hope this has whetted your appetite and I hope to post photos of New Zealand in the near future.

Hi there.

Here's a bit of an update as I'm in HK airport waiting for the flight to Auckland. I can't upload photos on the PC but hopefull I'll be able to do so as we travel around NZ,

Things have gone well so far. I met up with everyone at Heathrow and there are 28 people in the group of which 6 are men.

The flight was OK considering it was 10 hours and we arrived in HK on Friday evening. We stayed in the Island Pacific Hotel which is on the west side of HK.We had a quick wash and brush up and then took a tram to the Central district for a meal and drink.

The next morning we were up bright and early as our coach left at 9.00am. We visited the Peak which has great views of the city before moving on to visit Aberdeen harour and Stanley market. At the market I was part of a little splinter grou who opted to take a seat on the harbour front and enjoy the sunshine of a cooling beer. It was great.

The afternoon was free time so had a little walk to take in the atmosphere. In the eveening a group of 3 of us headed off on the Star ferry to visit Kowloon. We looked at the shops etc and then found a quiet little bar for a couple of drinks before heading back.

This morning, Sunday, had a chance for more exploration so took in a few sights and also travelled on the longest escalator in the world which took us from the sea front well up into the city. The bad news was that we had to walk back down as the escalator only goes one way. Anyway we really enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells. In the afternoon we transferred to the airport and it should be leaving in about 2 hours.

So bye for now and New Zealand here we come.

New Zealand Trip

Kia ora tatou. (this is Maori for Hello everyone)

Today is Tuesday 13th and I've just picked up my Hong Kong and New Zealand dollars. This somehow makes the trip seem imminent.

I hope to get chance to add some photos and some thoughts to this blog as the itinerary is very busy. I'm hoping that some of the hotels have Internet access or that I can fin some internet cafes.

I'll be leaving from Manchester Airport on Thursday about 5.00pm and picking up my flight to Hong Kong from Heathrow which leaves about 9.00pm. I'll then be spending a couple of nights in Hong Kong before flying to Aucland. Again this is for a copule of nights before the tour really gets started with a coach trip to Rotarua on Day 7.

So until my next blog, Haere ra (farewell)