South Island travels

What a great week away we had with mum and dad! We saw and experienced so many things - there is just no way I can detail them all on here or show you the hundreds of photographs we took in the process! But I will share some of the highlights! (click on pictures for enlargements)

Our road trip took us down the east coast of the South Island right to the very tip and then back up along the west coast where we left mum and dad so that we could return to work. They are still at the top of the South Island and will be back with us on Thursday night.

We saw snow topped mountains, aquamarine rivers, bungy jumpers, waterfalls, sheep, cows, deer, seals, and little blue penguins. We went walking in the west coast rain forests, travelled up long and winding mountain roads, shopping in cities, and gold panning in streams. We ate far too much great food and enjoyed wine tasting both at vineyards and during our meals! At every turn there was something breathtaking to see and we all agreed that New Zealand is indeed a very beautiful and stunning country. The weather was mostly kind to us and I think that we had a bit of everything from glorious warm and sunny days to snow falls!

For me, the places I particularly enjoyed were Dunedin, Oamaru (home of the little blue penguins) and Milford Sound. But what I really enjoyed most was just getting to spend so much time with my parents and Ben as we shared stories and laughs along the way!

Mum and Dad arrive back to ours on Thursday and will be in need of a rest and some downtime before they head off again - this time up North towards Taupo and Rotorua. We will then head up to meet them next Friday for a final weekend together in Hawke's Bay. I also have a great friend, Judith, from work in NI, coming over with her friends mid-November so it will be great to catch up with her too! With all these visitors and road-trips it's a wonder I have time to do anything else! But I love it! And it helps me feel that although at times I feel so far from home, family and friends, I have not been forgotten!