Saturday 28 November to Wednesday 2 December

Saturday

Didn't get very far today.

This morning we left Queenstown and headed over the Crown Range Road. We stopped at the Cardrona Hotel for a Devonshire tea. This place has a great garden bar and a very friendly cat!



Then we drove into Wanaka, the next main town over from Queenstown.



The weather was lovely and after looking round town we sat on a park bench by the lake enjoying the view. It was so relaxing we decided to find some accommodation with a view and get a bottle of wine to share.

Sunday

We drove to Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain.



We walked up to look at Tasman Glacier and the icebergs in Tasman Lake.



After that we had a bit of driving to do as we wanted to get as close to Christchurch as we could. We ended up pulling into a camp gound in Geraldine (about an hour out of Christchurch) just as the camp office was closing at 9.30pm. We got a cute little cabin to stay in for the night.

Monday and Tuesday

We stayed in Christchurch at a family friend's house. This was the highlight of our stay in Christchurch.



Wednesday
This morning we left Christchurch and headed north to Kaikoura. We are lucky to have a friend's holiday home to stay at here. It's wet today so will probably be in front of the fire with a DVD tonight. Tomorrow we might go whale-watching.

Stay tuned!

Friday 27 November

Queenstown is beautiful - a town beside a lake, surrounded by snow-topped mountains.

Since we hadn't done much exercise for the previous two days, we decided to do the one-hour uphill walk to reach the top of Bob's Peak, then catch the gondola back down. This is the view from the top:



After that big walk we enjoyed a gluten-free pizza for lunch.

In the afternoon we went jet boating at Skippers Canyon. It was a one-hour drive into the canyon with cliffs that dropped steeply away from the side of the road.



The jet-boat ride lasted 30 minutes and was exhilarating.



We were cold and damp by the time we got back to Queenstown so enjoyed some grilled fish and chips in the car by the waterfront for dinner.

After we'd dried off at our hostel we headed back into town for a few drinks. Found a great place with a roaring fire and stayed in front of that for a couple of hours while we planned some more of our trip.

Thursday 26 November

This morning we left camp and drove the rest of the way into Milford Sound.



My mum and dad met here when they were working at the Milford Sound Hotel (which no longer exists) and I spent the first six months of my life here.

Today we took a cruise on the sound with Mitre Peak Cruises


It was beautiful. We saw waterfalls, penguins and seals. The weather was pretty fine but it was windy and after being out on the top of the boat for two hours my fingers were numb!

After the cruise we drove from Milford to Queenstown (stopped in Te Anau on the way to have a coffee and download photos from my camera onto a disc).



It was still sunny when we arrived in Queenstown so after putting our things in our hostel room we headed out for a drink. Found a place nearby to catch the last of the sun while having a glass of wine, and planned our activities for the next day.

Wednesday 25 November

Today was the complete opposite to yesterday. We visited my Gran in the morning, then spent the rest of the day sitting in the car, driving from Dunedin to Hollyford Valley, near Milford Sound.



The most exciting part of our journey was a wild deer jumping out in front of our car as we were driving down an unsealed road to our accommodation for the night, Gunn's Camp.



The huts were once used by workers in the area. The huts are very basic, containing just a coal/wood-fired stove, a table and chairs, and a bed. But we could hear the nearby river rushing by as we lay in bed. Kind of like rain on the roof but without the pitter-patter sound.

Tuesday 24 November

Today we walked from my aunty and uncle's place into the city, had coffee then walked to the other side of the city to get to Baldwin Street, the world's steepest street.



We walked up the street. This is the view from the top



After we walked back down, Rob decided he wanted to try running up it. He made it, just. Wish I had recorded it.

We then walked back into town, did some shopping and walked back to my aunty and uncle's house. We were on our feet for a total of 7 hours. Was great putting our feet up afterwards! Weather has been lovely and sunny for us though think it will be wetter later in the week.

My Nephew

from today's Auckland Central Leader newspaper.

Little James Taylor-Keown could be forgiven for not liking needles.

The 18-month-old receives up to 12 insulin injections a day to control his type 1 diabetes.

James' mum Natasha Taylor-Keown says an insulin pump, which automatically administers daily doses of the drug, would provide an ideal solution for her energetic toddler.

But at a cost of more than $8000, which the family can't afford, and little public funding for the device, James is missing out.

"It's something that's been around for a good few years now and it's known that the pump controls diabetes a lot better than injections," she says.

"But there's still no funding out there for them at all. It's especially hard on little ones like James."

In Auckland the Starship Foundation provides a limited number of insulin pumps to children with diabetes, though it gives priority to patients who suffer from other conditions as well, like coeliac disease.

The Auckland District Health Board provides diabetes services for the region, including ongoing clinical care for patients and training on how to use the pump.

In contrast, the Canterbury board provides a limited amount of funding to purchase pumps for young people.

Even though mum-of-three Natasha is a registered nurse, she says it's hard to figure out how much insulin James needs during the day.

Exercise and the amount of food James eats alters how much of the drug he needs.

"His sensitivity to insulin changes throughout the day.

"It's hard to draw up in that tiny little syringe."

Diabetes Auckland NZ general manager John Denton agrees pumps are useful for regulating the amount of insulin children receive.

"It's difficult for any adult to be a diabetic let alone a child," he says.

"Children find the pumps really useful because the supply of insulin is regulated and much more flexible."

However he says the ongoing costs associated with a pump - like tubes that carry the insulin into the body, can be several thousand dollars a year.

ADHB chief planning and funding officer Denis Jury says it supports funding insulin pumps through the Starship Foundation, but has no plans to purchase pumps for individuals themselves.

If you can help James' family find the money for an insulin pump phone [in New Zealand] 027-520-120 or email taylorfamily@xnet.co.nz.

Monday 23 November

Flew from Auckland to Dunedin


Picked up our hire car at the airport and drove into town. Had a coffee, then decided to drive north about an hour to Moeraki Boulders.


These perfectly spherical boulders are believed to be 60 million years old.

Drove back towards Dunedin, stopping at Carey's Bay Hotel (near Port Chalmers) and sat outside for a drink.


In the late afternoon we arrived at my aunty and uncle's place in Dunedin. We hadn't seen each other for about 16 years, so had a great evening catching up with them and my grandmother over dinner and drinks.

I want my abs back!

Must be patient and consistent.