North of the South

Em Hanging around in Picton. A couple of solid days of rain stopped play for a while but then we got to walk some of the beautiful Queen Charlotte Track.

Then on to stay with a family who live just outside of Nelson for another session of organic farming.

Crossing Cook Strait

A view from the ferry from Welli to Picton, our last view of the North Island (where the seals live- see below). We spent a few days in Picton and walked a bit of the famous Queen Charlotte track. Off now to Marlborough to sample some vino.

Ah, this is the life

A group of seals were settling in nicely to enjoy the afternoon sunshine on the southernmost tip of the North Island. They looked so relaxed on some pretty rugged rocks- they just snuggled down to find a good spot.

Outer Shire

Another amazing LOTR location and you can see why! This really is an incredible place.

It's our last day in Welli and we've had a great time but it's time to keep moving on. We catch the ferry at luchtime tomorrow accross to Picton on the south Island where we're stopping for a few days to do some walks then we'll be wwoofing on a farm for a week planting veggies. The adventure continues...

Emma flees the Nazgul (wellington)

Emma hides from Lee, erm I mean the Nazgul. This is the actual location of the 'outer shire' flight scene, but there weren't any scary predators today. (present company excluded) There are several locations just 5 mins from where we staying on mount Victoria, central Welli. Lindsay, a friend of a friend has offered some top notch kiwi hospitality and let us stay while we explore Welliwood. A fantastic city and windy, as its reputation suggests. (resisting temptation for cheap laugh). Like San Francisco but friendlier & more manageable. Next plan is to hop over to the south.

A week Roamin' & Letting off steam

Here's Lady Knox Geyser doing her thing just outside Rotorua, as she does every day. This is at Wai-o-Tipu, an area of intense geo-thermal activities. There were sulphur lakes, boiling mud pools, steam rising from the ground an vast array of unfeasably brightly coloured rocks. Enough to melt the heart of even the most un-geologically minded person. truly a wonder of the world.

Working on Maggie's farm

We spent a fantastic week wwoofing on John and Maggies organic farm in the Coromandel region east of Auckland. You see me here with Poppy and daisy who seemed to like having us around.

We loved learning about organic things & self-sufficiency (Maggie is a wealth of information) & Lee learnt lots about digging holes. Very inspiring.