New Zealand- Wanaka

I still can't work out if we were mad for visiting Singapore and New Zealand on the way out to Australia. It just felt like we'd never get to see them otherwise. Whenever we met someone who had spent time over here, we always asked what were their favourite things about Australia. Invariable they said New Zealand (unless they were Australian, when they said things like the "RED CENTRE").

It was quite bizzare getting off the plane after an overnight flight, and hiring a car. We set off feeling a little underwhelmed by it all. We headed south from Christchurch, stopping to have lunch in Subway (ask Howard why). Then we headed west toward Wanaka, and things got a bit more interesting, but really it was like being in Scotland, only a lot further from Bristol. I was beginning to think T had got it right spending all his holidays in Scotland. By this point we were having to swap over the driving about every 20 minutes as we felt our eyes trying to close behind the wheel. Although we didn't check, I don't think sleeping at the wheel is legal in any country.

Gradually the mountains got bigger and more impressive, and the fantastic aquamarine lakes did grab our attention. Wanaka is a fantastic lakeside holiday town with skiing in the winter and sun in the summer. Unfortunately it wasn't the debut of Howard's sea kayaking, but we did manage to wander around the lake on foot and by bike.

We bravely decided to walk up Mount Iron, described in the guide book as "close-to-Wanaka-town loop walk suits all ages and abilities and offers great views from the summit". With reasonable stats of 4.5Km, and 250m climb we thought it would be no sweat. However, Carys clearly hadn't read the guide book, and coaxing her around was a bit challenging. She wasn't impressed by the view, but managed to open an ice-cream shop on the top, and serve imaginary ice-cream to confused passers by.