Long drive down the south island

Over the last three days we drove from Abel Tasman, at the north end of the island, to Te Anau, at the south end.

On the first day we stopped at the 'pancake rocks'

Then spent the night in Hokitika

We hiked to the Fox Glacier on our way to Haast

And got lunch in Queenstown before making it to Te Anau

This is a pretty amazingly beautiful country all the way around and the few pictures we've posted definitely don't do it justice.

South on the North Island and North on the South Island

Well, we headed down to Wellington to for a brief stay before taking the ferry to the South Island. It was a beautiful city which we really wished we had more time in.

After relaxing in Kaiteriteri Beach amongst a garden of fruit trees we then took a water taxi to Awaroa Lodge in Abel Tasman National Park, where we'll be staying for a few days.  Thanks to my dad & step mom for the wonderful surprise we got when we arrived :-).

More of the Central North Island

We've hiked to a beautiful waterfall.

And completed the Tongariro Alpine Crossing...

(that's Adina in the picture)

Central North Island

Since leaving Auckland we've dipped our toes in the Tasman Sea near Raglan.

And spent a couple of hours underground in Ruakuri cave in Waitomo abseiling, zip lining, jumping off ledges, and climbing up waterfalls.

Around Auckand

We've lounged on a beach...

And hiked up a volcano...