G'day from Sydney

Hi

We arrived in Sydney yesterday, the people are much more forward in their approach than New Zealanders. We nearly got ripped off by touts at the airport and then the taxi driver tried to persuade us to sell up everything in the UK, move in with him and set up businesses over here. That was in a 20 minute journey!

Our hotel overlooks both the harbour bridge and the opera house and the view is amazing.

The temp is about 75 degrees so really pleasant. We took a stroll down to one of the harbours and just wandered around the bars, restaurants etc. we can see why young british people travel out here and stay.

We eventually walked back to the hotel and used the hotel restaurant on the 36th floor overlooking the opera house. At 10pm their was a wonderful firework display that no one seemed to be expecting. No pictures I forgot my camera! We will be able to view it from our room tonight so will try some pictures then.

today we have a boat trip round the harbour and trips up a large tower etc.etc.

The photos in Sydney 1 are a few from our hotel on the last day in Fiji including a dance show at night and then the rest are all Sydney

Oneness

Ok

This is where some of you are going to think we have lost it! The second week we attended a course called oneness where we were taught how to give the oneness blessing.

Unfortunately we had to leave Namale and because this was to be the opening ceremony and first ever course at the training centre we were not on campus wither, we were put in a holiday centre a couple of miles down the road. To start with the accomodation caused us great concern but it ended up being wonderful. It was an annex to a villa high on a hill, it only had an outside shower with no walls around it and the walls to the building were all glass, anyone could see in, no curtains at all.

By the second day we loved showering outside with an amazing view of the ocean, if anyone wanted to look that was there problem and to wake up with the sunrise shining in your eyes was wonderful.

The island had been suffering bad weather for weeks and the building project was way behind schedule but everything had to be completed that night for the opening as it was the first time in 20 years that 9 plans were lining up and was very auspicious it was also to open on Good Friday. The ceremony opened at midnight and although we were told lots of famous people were attending including the dala larma and Nelson Mandela they did not appear but we had an open video link to the person who set up the oneness movement Baghwan and his wife in India. It was a wonderful ceremony.

The next day we commenced the course it was ran partly by Tony Robbins and partly by the monks from India. Because it was the first week Tony did his bits personally (in future it will be on video), we had our own monk as our teacher and they were so wise and insightful.

We started the day with Yoga taken by Guru Singh, wow what a man, we all sat like school children at his feet listening to his words of wisdom, we then went into meditation before we started the teachings of the day.

Each day concluded with a blessing given by a cosmic being (told you, you would think we are mad). These are highly charged people who haven't spoken for many years and were so powerful and moving.

To try and summarise each day we were taken via teachings towards being able to give the blessing it itself. What is the blessing, well its a type of meditation that is non denominational, it can be used for healing but more than anything it is to help people to understand their lifes more and to help them through it. It is an amazing experience.

Meg Ryan was on the course and although didn't mix much she went through everything we did. On two days we had silence days, nothing to be spoken from lunch through to breakfast the next day (Carol found that difficult!).

Finally on the last day we became certified blessing givers, their are very few of these currently in the uk. We then had a chance to give blessings to the next weeks life mastery course and it was really amazing and they had wonderful experiences.

For those of you who are interested we will tell you more, for those not don't worry we won't zap you! The learning we had was amazing and will effect us for ever.

After life mastery we were told on 3 occasions we didn't look old enough to have teenage kids. On Easter Sunday I was sitting outside pondering life when I saw the most amazing shooting star I have ever seen, it exploded like a firework. The next day everyone said I had totally changed and lost my wrinkles!

So many insightful things to pass on but try this "suffering is not in the fact, it is in your perception of the fact" Get that in your head to start with and life seems different.

Ok, enough hippy rambling. We left the island on the tiny 12 seater plane we had arrived in and arrived back at the Westin resort in Nadi where we had left our bags. This was our planned rest of the whole trip. First night at the resort and sitting in the restaurant was Guru Singh and Meg Ryan, we went over to speak to them and actually chatted to Meg this time. She gave Carol a hug (yes seen her naked and hugged her!!)

It has been a rest but not quite the sun bathing mecca we thought of as it has rained everyday (apart from a few hours this morning). It was here that the internet wouldn't work, we lost all the photos and it rained all the time and all we could do was smile and love life! (sorry hippy rambling again).

Tomorrow we move onto Sydney and back on the tourist trips, we have just booked a 3 1/2 hour walk at twilight over the harbour bridge so plenty of photo's again.

Love and life

x

We're Back!!!

Ok, back into communication with the world, I didn't realise how many people were following our trip. I am going to split this into two blogs as we were over at SavuSavu for 2 weeks doing two different courses so that makes sense.

Before I start I have a big apology to make, I took over 350 photos of the two weeks, I went to download them, the programme crashed and I lost all the pictures, we are now emailing people we met on the two courses so we can share in pictures which shows the beauty of the island more than we can possibly say in words.

The first week was Life Mastery on Tony Robbins own resort called Namale. This is the most beautiful resort we have even been to. The landscape and the people. We were met from the hut, otherwise known as the airport (not much bigger than a bus shelter), collected in a mini-bus and on arrival we were sung to by the staff. We registered and shown to our Bure.

It had our name carved in wood hanging from the door, the bure looked out onto the ocean it was beautiful, it had a shower that we could open to the outside and a verandah overhanging the coral reef below.

We met up with the other 50 people on the course and were taken to climb the telegraph poles that we described in the previous posting.

The week was all about health and lifestyle, on day 2 we started a four day fast that was controlled with supplements each day and we never really felt hungry through the whole period.

We went in swimming in the sea one day, that meant a 10 minute walk across the coral reef to get to the ocean, we saw fish that previously we had only seen in marine tanks.

We went to Tony's own waterfall and swam in the cool waters, it was a really restful and healthy week.

We had colonics everyday and loved them, got to sit, clean out the system and watch videos while we did it. Felt so good afterwards. Sorry but you are going to hear so much more about these as they are part of our next business venture (from cleaning up shit to cleaning out shit!!!).

We had analyse of our blood including dry blood, this is amazing they can actually tell from 8 spots of dry blood things that have happened in your life in the last 20 years!

We had massages daily and on the 5th day Meg Ryan arrived on the site. Carol first new about it when Meg walked past Carol while she was showering and said hello to her so Carol's claim to fame is Meg Ryan saw her naked in the shower. I have told many people I think it would be so much better if I could say I saw Meg Ryan naked in the shower but.........

Finally on the 5th day we were given food again and it was wow, raw fruit and veg and it tasted so good, I now even like celery.

We said our goodbyes as it was time to move over to course two oneness, more about that in blog 2.

sorry

Ok

Apologies we have arrived in Fiji after quite an eventful journey. We had to leave Christchurch and fly to Auckland before transferring to Nadi (Fiji). We had 1 1/2 hours between flights. Then the first flight got delayed by an hour!

6 of us on the plane were due to catch the connecting flight. They set it up that we would be let of the plane first so everyone had to stay seated for us to rush off the plane. Then they had people waiting to collect us. What we didn't know was Auckland airport has a separate terminal for domestic and international flights so we were picked up by a taxi. At the international terminal we had to buy a ticket to leave the country! We then were ran through the airport, we were took through the vip part of searching and passport control. We were then ran to the plane. We arrived at the gate to find it hadn't even loaded yet.

We had an uneventful flight and arrived in Fiji at 11pm we were then transferred onto our hotel for 2 nights in Nadi. We arrived at midnight to our ocean view room but had to wait to the morning to see it.

The next day was quite uneventful, the hotel was large and really for people having a restful holiday although it did have its own island. We ate lots, slept lots and had our last drinks of alcohol with several cocktails.

We left the hotel at 5am in the morning to catch the 7am flight to SavuSavu, the airport was one small strip and the plane we travelled in was only a 12 seater. The airport is an open hut! We were transferred onto Namala Tony Robbins resort. It was as wonderful as we imagined. We were greeted with flowers and traditional singing. We then went through registration and signing up for our colonics etc. We met our fellow course members and were fed a meal of raw fruit and veg which was wonderful.

After introductions we were took to the poles! These are approx 30 foot high and we have to climb them, stand on the top and then jump to a trapeze. It was a really amazing feeling to complete. We also got to watch some bats flying around while we were doing it.

There are 45 of us on the course from all corners of the world - its a great course with lots of thought provoking questions !?
We all were given our final meal of fresh foods and salad which was delicious. Then it was on to wheatgrass, oudos oil and the odd fruit juice. thought we would be hungry but actually its not hit us yet. A few people are struggling with the cold turkey style and the caffeine withdrawals, so far we have only suffered a bit of light headedness. We have both had our first colonic ! very interesting but we would recommend it.

We also had our first masage yesterday at the spa, they did the 2 off us in the same room, overlooking the ocean, it was amazing both felt like floating out when we were done.

To energise ourselves in class there are rebounders (mini trampolines) its great fun, if you feel like you are falling asleep you just go to the back of the room and have a bounce its so energising, and actually its a big part of the detox programme as it stimulates your Lymph to flow.

We have had a dramatic tropical storm today - we are not seeing much of the weather as we are in class most of the time. But it is hot and humid.

Yesterday was palm sunday and we all had the chance to go to the local church - it was beautiful, their singing is amazing, all the children were in church - it was fun to watch some of them dropping off to sleep. At the end we were given some colouring pens and paper to hand out to the kids - they were beautiful - those big brown eyes.

This morning we were taken to see a waterfall and we all got to swim in it - what a way to start the day. The guide that took us up to the waterfall was the first one in and he was shouting what are you waiting for get in here ! it would have been rude not to.

Well time to go back to class, I am apologising because I am unable to publish any of the great photos I have taken including those of us doing the jump. I am hoping a computer wizz can connect me to the hotspots around here. Apart from that computers are few and far between so it will only be a posting every few days.

Christchurch day 2

Awoke at 4.45am, why? To phone the hot air balloons recorded message to see if the weather was good enough to fly.................

It was, quickly up dressed and in reception for 5.10am. We get on a bus with 20 other people and are taken 40 minutes out of town. When we arrive its still pitched black and we help to set the balloon up, the largest balloon in New Zealand. It takes about 30 minutes to set up and when we finally all climb in, 20 passengers a pilot and a co-pilot and nearly topple over once we set sail.

It is truely amazing, its just getting light and its very cloudy, we go up to 2000 feet and can see everything as small dots below, its so peaceful apart from the rushing sound of heat being pumped into the balloon every 30 secs or so. After approx 10mins the pilot asks permission of air traffic control to go up to 6000 feet, this is granted and we set off through the clouds. The temp drops dramatically as we go through the clouds and finally we are soaring above them. We can see the mountains in the distance and the sun slowly rising. We spent nearly 30 minutes above the clouds.

We were being followed by a ground crew who was trying to keep up with us and guess where we were going, but obviously we don't know either. Then, it must be something to do with Carol, the pilot has a special camera to put outside the balloon and take a picture of us all. He goes to load it and finds for the first time ever he has forgot the camera battery, how is that for coincidence, on carols paraglide and on this hot air balloon ride no official photograph!!

Again I have taken loads of pictures and just chosen a selection for you to see.

We finally come back down through the clouds and the ground crew still can't find us. We are coming lower and realise that the balloon is being drawn to the magnetic electrical pylons and cables, we are following its exact path, we eventually had to go higher to get away from them, I have taken a photo with us only 100 foot or so above them!

We decide on a field to land although the pilot and co-pilot are in a bit of dispute as we come down we realise we are very,very,very close to an electric fence and in fact the bottom of the basket takes out one of the poles, we hit the ground and the balloon and basket slowly topple over, we are all in a brace position for this. We end up with Carol lying on top of me and we exit the basket undignified but out sideways. I have taken pics of this.

We were eventually found by the ground crew and were annointed into the hot air ballooning club, with a glass of champagne, an irish prayer and taped on the head with a champagne cork!

Yes one of the pictures does show an american lady with a teddy bear, she took it on the flight, apparently it goes everywhere with her!

Today is travelling day again. You have got this blog early as we are packing the case to chck out the hotel. We don't get picked up for another 4 hours. We are then flying to Auckland before flying on Fiji where we shall arrive just before Midnight.

Christchurch day 1

Sorry no blog for yesterday. We left the hotel just before 8am got to the coach and was told we had got an 11 hour journey to Christchurch, but this was to broken by a trip to Mount Cook the highest mountain in New Zealand.

After 5 hours of travelling we arrived at Mount Cook but it was blowing a gale and throwing it down with rain. I took a a couple of photos of the mist and behind that apparently is th mountain.

I did take a couple of other photos on the way of various lakes and a wedding in place at a church by the side of a lake, but the driver wouldn't stop said we were behind schedule.

We finally got to Christchurch about 8pm and ate in the hotel, too tired for anything else.

We got up this morning early as we had a trip booked to Arthurs pass. This involved being taken on a minibus for an hour to a train station at a town called Springfield where we went on a train up into the mountain. Sorry to those of you that have moaned the photos are all mountans and lakes but the pictures I took were all mountains and lakes!

When we got there the minibus collected us, we had lunch and then drove to a river where we went on a powerboat up the river, that was good fun with some 360 degree turns etc. We then went to a working farm to see yet more sheep, sheepdogs and shearing!!

We got back to the hotel at 6pm and finally had a look round the town, its more english than england! Its like oxford or cambridge even does punting on the river through town.

Tomorrow we are due to travel on to Fiji but we have booked a hot air balloon, we have got to wake up at 4am and phone to see of the weather is good to go or not. You will know tomorrow whether we make it or not (more pics of mountains and lakes!)

Queenstown day 3

The view from our hotel room

Unfortunately today is our last full day in Queenstown as we move on tomorrow.

This is the first place we shall be sad to leave we really have enjoyed it that much. It seems to have everything you could want out of a town and I am sure we will come back one day.

It has lakes and mountains, sun and snow, great restaurants and wine, clean air and its very spiritual plus just about every outdoor sport and thrill seeking activity you could think off, plus they speak English and hate the Australians (not that we do yet, but sure we would if we came here often).

We got up late this morning and did some shopping in town. We had to go back up the mountain on the cable car to collect some bags we had left there on Saturday and they let us up for free. The conditions were perfect for paragliding and we were very jealous of those taking part.

We came back down and went on the trip on the TSS Earshaw across the lake, this is a steam boat that goes across the lake 5 times a day. On the other side is a farm that they have turned into a show farm and restaurant. On getting on the boat we were a bit worried on one side of the boat a man was playing the piano doing 1950's songs and we seemed to be the youngest by a long way, we had gone from paragliding and white-water rafting to a 50's singalong and tea dance (i know which was the most scary to us). We went outside and watched the scenery and enjoyed the 23 degree temp.

After 40 mins we arrived at the farm where we had a bbq and a nice glass of local wine. We then watched a sheepdog display and saw a sheep being shorn. After about 2 hours we took the boat back and sat out on the deck and enjoyed the sun.

When we returned we went for an afternoon nap!!! Wow we must be on holiday. I then went for a 45 min run, can't do too much resting. As I write this Carol is packing the bags as we are off early tomorrow. We are travelling by coach across the mountains to Christchurch, it took an hour to fly so could be a long journey.

Milford Sound

Today was an early start as we picked up by a taxi at 6.45am to take us 200 yards to the coach to take us on a 4 hour drive to Milford Sound.

Milford sound is a Fjord on the South island. The drive took us through some amazing countryside and passed lots of lakes and waterfalls. Eventually we arrived at Milford Sound and climbed aboard the ship for a 2 hour sail around the fjord. Everyone had warned us that this is the wettest place in New Zealand and that it rains nearly all the time. Well we had the exception, the sun shone and although it was cold the views we were amazing.

Again I went snap happy with the camera and took loads of picture I have just downloaded a few of them onto hear for you to sample. Again the pictures do not do it justice and can only say, come out and see for yourselves how amazing it is. The mountains are really snow capped, the waterfalls are as large as they look (and as cold and wet, we went right up close to one) and the scenery is just mouth openingly beautiful.

The only disappointment of the day was we were due to travel back by plane and fly over the fjords and lakes back to Queenstown but it was cancelled due to the weather (it didn't look bad to us) and so had to do the 4 hour journey back on the bus again. Still with the views it wasn't that much of a punishment.

Queenstown day 1

Ok

This is the place!!!!!!

We have sold up and moved out here, well maybe not yet but soon. Its got everything, fantastic scenery, wonderful restaurants, hot during the summer and snow in the winter. Every possible thrill thing you could think off and...........they speak English.

Seriously this is a fantastic place, we have been here 2 days and felt so at home. Our hotel overlooks the main lake and the centre of the town is about 200 yards away.

I went out for a run on the first night and it was probably the best run I have ever been on in my life, it went along the lake then went up into the hills and ended back down by the lake but on a private cove, I was out nearly an hour and felt I could run forever. We went our for a meal at night at sat at the bar chatting to the staff for nearly an hour it was so relaxing, then we went to a bar and danced to and watched a live band till early in the morning.

We got up today and walked into town to do some shopping and decided to take the gondola cable car up the mountain, when we got up there we saw the tandem paragliding down the mountain into town. They had vacancies and went for it..............wow. I had a very smooth trip down and loved it. Carols found some different currents and had an amazing trip even the guide who took her town said he really for excited about it! Unfortunately he wasn't able to take any photos of their trip as he felt he had to keep his hands 2 I took of Carol taking off and landing but believe me we both did it.

We then went back up the hill and did 2 luge trips down the mountain which was good fun.

We finally took the gondola down the mountain in time to change and go off for our afternoon trip to white water rafting.

Ok, if they had told us the journey we would have to take to get to the rafting we never would have done it. We were driven in coaches for 45 mins along cliff edges with sheer drops to reach the start of the rafting experience on the shotover river. It was really scary and not nice but finally we got there and started our trip down the river. We were dressed head to foot in wet suits etc, plus helmets and other safety gear, 7 of us in a boat plus an instructor, ours was called Jesse from New Zealand only 22 but his parents own a rafting company and it has been in his family for generations he was really good, clearly the best of the 8 boats on the trip.

The trip took over 4 hours and we went through 7-8 rapids plus a long tunnel, we had a fantastic time and only wish we had been through more rapids as those we did were amazing, we only nearly tipped over once but again our guide helped us (after hitting me on the backside to remind me left from right!!) to right the boat and sale through it.

We were unable to take a camera down the rapids so have paid for photos, we will download them to the photo album as soon as they xome available.

We drove back into Queenstown and then went out for another meal. Again the meal was amazing we decided after the day we had, had that we go for an experience. One restaurant did a 5 coursr meal of the chefs choice along with appropiate wines and we went for it. The vegitarianism went out of the window as we had pork and beef but it was a great meal, now sitting with indigestion so it won't convert me back to meat but it was a great experience to match the rest of this fantastic day.

Rotorua evening

So having thrown our clothes on we hurried out to the next trip. This was due to be a Maori village evening with entertainment and food.

We got on the bus and was taken to a visitors centre to be given some of the history before being transported out of town to the village. On the bus a volunteer was required to be the chief for the evening and ever the shy person I stepped forward. It started with me leading the rowing chant to get to the location.

I was then taught the maori traditional greeting and had to lead our people into the village where I was joined by three other chiefs from the other buses. It was taken very seriously and we were given a strict warning that we had to stand and face the maori warriors while they went through all their dances and tribal challenges some right up to our faces, just like the haka. They would then choose one chief to represent the group and collect the symbol of peace....yes it was me that was chosen to collect the twig of peace.

We managed to do it without upsetting the Maoris and were allowed in to the village. We were then given examples of maoris dance and entertainment before being led through for food cooked traditionally Maori Hangi (a hot pit of stones). We followed the meal with a sing song and then all us chiefs were given a present for our troubles.

We travelled back on the coach but then had the worst experience of the night, the chief had to lead the singing, my version of swing low will not go down in history!

We finally got back to the hotel at 9pm after an amazing day.

Tomorrow we travel again, got to be up for 6am as we fly to Queenstown so probably no blog tomorrow.

Rotorua day 2

Ok I have split today in to two as it was the most amazing day do far. If you have been looking at the photos I have only put a selection of today on I took over 300 photos!

The photo's don't do it justice but it is the best I could do, my suggestion, get on a plane and fly out here and see, smell and hear it for yourselves!!

We were collected early to go on an eco tour of the waitotapu park, this place is amazing. It contains bubbling mud, different coloured volcanic lakes, bubbling streams 100 degrees, and a live geyser.

All I can say is look at the photos we just walked around with our mouths wide open, the colours are even brighter than those on the photos, the mud is really bubbling all the time, the water is as hot as it looks, it is all just amazing.

Tmanhey set the geyser off every day at the same time by putting soap in the hole! It would go every day without it but not to time so they make it happen, we were right underneath it, fortunately by the time the water comes down it has cooled down.

Following that park we were transferred to the Waimangu volcanic valley. We walked down and saw where a volcano had taken place just over 100 years ago. Again we saw amazing coloured lakes and streaming hot water.

We returned to the hotel and were picked up ten minutes later to go on a four wheel drive up the Mount Tararewa, this is a privately owned volcanic mountain and this is the only company allowed to go up it. Four of us were taken up it took about 45 minutes to reach the sumit, the views were amazing. We were taken to the edge of a dormant volcano summit and allowed to go over the edge and walk/slide down into the centre, it was absolutely amazing, again the pictures cannot do it justice. The thrill of it and the colours and only 4 of us plus the guide in what felt like the centre of the earth.

We walked out from the centre and just as we thought the thrill was over we were picked up by a helicopter and flown back into the city centre. To see the whole area from this height and to again see all the colours. We also got to see sacred Maori lakes not accessible from the ground. It was a fantastic experience. We arrived back at the hotel and thought we had 2 hours before our next trip, we ran a bath, we opened the wine and....we got a phone call from reception our evening trip was 2 hours earlier than planned and they were waiting at reception for us.

For this evenings trip read the second blog of the day!

Rotorua day 1

Up early this morning (6.30am!) checked out and had breakfast before catching the coach for the day.

We were picked up by a driver called Lawrie who was to be our guide for the day, this man has to be probably the most boring guides in the world, but he loves the sound of his own voice. We were to be on the coach for nearly 5 hours and he talked for nearly all of it.

I wish I had written down some of his quotes and statements I could have put them into a book, here is just a taster for you.

"on the left is the brick yard, in there they make bricks"

"we are just entering the new dual carriage way, the lanes on the right go back to where we have come from"

"you need to be back on the coach at 1.10pm thats 10 minutes passed one, thats 1.10pm thats 10 minutes passed one" The really bad thing about that was Carol and I forgot what time we were due back on!!

We arrived at Waitomo caves for a tour of the caves to see Stalactites etc and a boat trip of the glow worms, unfortunately you will have to take our word for this as cameras were banned, apart from when we left the caves at the end of the trip.

After a further 2 hours with Lawrie we arrived at Rotorua and our new hotel the Rydges hotel, definately not the best we have stayed in, I will leave you to imagine Carols language when she discovered the beds had human hairs on the sheets! But it was made up for with a spa bath in every room.

I went for a 30 minute run, followed some other runer, luckily he led me back towards the direction I had come from or could still be out now.

The hotel os 20 minutes from the centre of town, we walked in and realised how strong the smell of sulpher is in this town from the lakes etc. Took some good photo's of the lake and then found a really nice restaurant.

By the time we came out the temp had dropped dramatically, it is about 2-3 degrees colder here than Auckland and it is becoming their Autumn. Walked back briskly to the hotel.

Auckland last day

Got up and went to the gym and for a swim, this health lark is good fun!

Had breakfast and a walk round town to buy few gifts, we bought a teddy bear that sings the Haka how corny is that? It started raining and just went more wet from there. We even found time to have haircuts (you may notice from the pictures)

Had a fantastic sushi lunch of avocado salad with salmon etc and then got on the boat for a dolphin and whale watching trip. The bad weather had meant the morning event was cancelled and it was only just passed for us to go but we warned that the wind speed out in the open ocean was going to be at least 5 knots and would be very rough and make spotting of dolphins difficult. Yesterday they had seen over 100 dolphin and been followed by a whale for about 10 minutes.

We loved the trip when it got into the open ocean it was so exhilarating, we had to buy waterproofs as it didn't stop raining once but it was really fun. Unfortunately we didn't see one dolphin or whale. But they offer a guarantee of a free trip until you do see one, we have a free voucher vaid for a lifetime for the trip if anyone knows they are visiting Auckland in the near future (next 10 years?) let us know and you can have our free pass.

We got back and had an enormous ice cream before coming back to the hotel to pack.

We decided to walk down town again and find a restaurant, we found a little italian and had a sea food platter but not up to the standard we had eaten in other restaurants in the town. Back to the hotel as we have an early start in the morning ready to travel to the next location of Rotorua.

2nd day in Auckland

Hi

Today we set the alarm for 7am and got up at 8.30am! This sleeping lark is amazing. Anyway we raced up and had breakfast and was at the port in time to catch the 10am ferry to Waiheke. Following a 35 minute ferry we were met the other side by Judy who was to be our guide for the island.

The island is quite small and is really a holiday mecca for the summer months (Oct-Mar) although many people commute on the ferry to Auckland each day. Some of the houses are amazing with fantastic view of the ocean but also come at amazing prices.

The island is home to 22 vineyards and our tour was to include 3 of them plus a trip to an olive/avocado oil farm.

We drove around to see some of the amazing views before stopping at the first vineyard called obsidian. For those crystal lovers of you obsidian is a volcanic stone and the black variety is one of the most powerful called the wizard stone. Although not found generally on the island the owners used to work with obsidian but when they started to farm the land obsidian was found in the fields because the Maoris used to use it as a tool (you never knew reading this would be informative did you?).

Anyway back to the more important information the wine on this vineyard was amazing from the sauvinion blanc and chardonnay through to the Merlot and the Syrah (yes we tried them all, it would have been rude not to).

We left this vineyard and went on to one called Kennedy point, the wine was not quite as nice as the first but they produced great olive oil and avocado oil which soaked up the wine a bit.

We left this one to go to a third but it was shut! Apparently it is not winter hours even though it was 23 degrees and sunny. We left this one and went onto a fourth where we were to have lunch, this place was amazing and it had won many awards for its wines and its restaurant.

We were given a table overlooking the ocean and sat for several hours eating and trying yet more wines, apparently the 2005 vintage was much better than the 2006 although the 2006 went better with cheese??

After 2 hours we left this restaurant and was due to go back to the port but we asked Judy to stop at a beach so we could finally go for our first swim in the ocean. It was amazing, we swam for about 20 minutes and then took a walk along the beach before being collected again by Judy who took us back to the port.

We arrived back into Auckland at 6pm and walked back to our hotel. I went for a 45 minute run and we decided to have a night in the hotel, do some emails etc. Although the night is still young yet!!

1st day in Auckland

We woke up after over 8 hours sleep!

Firstly if you have need reading this and following along with the photos you have got a busy time, we took over 120 pictures today but I think you will see why as you go through them, the scenery is amazing.

We went down for breakfast and then walked down town, the harbour is only 15 minutes away. We came back to the room and got ready for our trip. We were collected in a minibus and after a trip round the hotels 9 of us went on an Eco tour. Firstly we went up into the mountains and went to a visitors centre where we saw lots of Maori carvings and drawings. From there we went to the beach to walk on black volcanic sand, we even went for a paddle in the sea and watched some people surfing on the large waves.

From the beach we went to the rain forest and saw and took pictures of the waterfall and amazing trees.

We stopped off for afternoon tea (well our guide was originally from Derbyshire, he visited 20 years ago for 6 weeks and never returned). Following tea we went to various spots where we could take amazing pictures of the forests and the sea.

We returned about 6pm and walked back to the hotel, it was time for some fitness again and we went to the gym and followed it up with a swim. Then it was time to put the calories back on. We walked back to the harbour and went to an amazing fish restaurant. I had Scampi followed by John Dory and Carol had a cheese compote followed by a mixture of 3 fish, all the meals were so tasty and washed down with a couple of glasses of local wine. A really fantastic day, I think we are going to enjoy New Zealand.