Birdsong in sunny warm NZ

Hi there,

How different is this to your cold weather... Its sunny, incredible views of the Southern Alps with snow in the distance, empty roads.

We travelled along the West coast yesterday having paid another visit to the Pancake Rocks near our hostel. Stopped in a town called Greymouth, which was much more attractive than the name suggests!

Got some hay fever stuff from a pharmacy, as I had failed to realise that it is hay fever time here - not too bad, just a bit of a nuisance. Stopped at this little place called Hokatika at the Birdsong hostel - it is beautifully decorated by the owner's wife with pictures of the local birds, each room has a special one, and we are in Spoonbill.

The only snag is that it is on the main road, but it quietened down at night and we slept well. Having booked in, we went on a drive recommended by the owner, Neil from Congleton, Cheshire (!) into the hinterland of the mountains.

We got as far as the Hokatika Gorge where there is a really scary suspension bridge which wobbles when you walk across it, with a milky blue fierce river in a canyon beneath. We went back via a glacial lake, much of it on a gravel road but so well engineered that no decrease in speed was required.

After supper we walked along the road to the Glow Worm Dell, a bit of the bush with a path in it, masses of little lights, same animal as in the cave we saw from the boat. Off to the Glaciers today, Franz Joseph and Fox.

Love to all, Ma and Pa.