So here are some photos from a little trip to the South Island, most of the time in the delightful company of young Lauren, Kiwi mate from uni.
Highlights for me were seeing Loz's home town and the AMAZING house her dad has just built and a drive through the beautiful rolling hills of the Rangitiki region, only to be tricked into hurling myself along a zip-wire at the worryingly-titled 'Gravity Canyon', hmm - check out the blue telly-tubby shot for our amusing safety gear.
Both new to tramping and National Parks we picked New Zealand's smallest (the Abel Tasman park) and busiest (the coastal track) for our first proper hike. Despite lack of light-weight, hi-tech gear (our borrowed tent was nicknamed 'Das Mansion' by a bemused German couple), the wrong gas cylinder for our stove (much bribing with sweets of more sensible souls) and unhelpful weather (a thorough soaking on the last day), we still managed to complete the four-day route in our ridiculous schedule of two and a half, and we had even (unwittingly) done it in the hillier direction.
So with only a blister each apiece and a few nasty bites we returned to the lovely coastal town of Nelson very smug and enjoyed lots of eating and drinking, some gentle strolls and swimming in the river.
Then round the hills a bit to Picton and a boat trip out to a lodge on the Malrborough SOunds for a day of hammock swimming and admiring the art installations - 'is it art or is it just a drain?', oft repeated.
So whilst I was very pleased to see a bit of the South the best thing of all was the super company - so thank you Loz for your tent-carrying skills, organisation, patience, cheerfulness and, most of all, upmost generosity in sharing that Paua, mmm
