Los Angeles Day 20

Well, yesterday was the longest Thursday ever! We left New Zealand at 9.10pm and arrived in L.A. at 2.30pm the same day, having flown for 12 hours! It's not every day that you arrive somewhere before you left!

Picked up the hire car and a map with the tiniest writing due to so many roads. We tried to find our way from the airport to our hotel across Hollywood and Beverly Hills at rush hour!

After several wrong turns and passing Universal Studios twice, we finally arrived!

Next day decided to do all the famous sights in the morning, so we could go to the beach in the afternoon! Spent some time trying to find the Hollywood sign - you'd think it would be easy as it is so big, but not compared to the size of LA.

Next onto Hollywood Boulevard for the Walk of Fame - impossible to walk it all as it would take over 3 hours.

Tim standing in the footprints of 'Old Blue Eyes'

Saw the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars take place and the hand & footprints of stars in the pavement.

Tim found a friend

Then onto Sunset Strip for breakfast at Mel's diner (although it was nearly lunchtime). Val had the small option of pancakes!

A quick trip to Rodeo Drive & then onto Santa Monica Beach.


Rodeo Drive - didn't see Posh out shopping!



Then onto Malibu where we bumped into a film crew on the pier (as you do!).

Dinner tonight on Sunset Strip.

Time for a quick swim in the morning before our flight home.

See you all very soon,

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 19

Woke up at 6.19am due to 4.5 earthquake after shock! The hotel was shaking and we were somewhat concerned as we were on the 8^th floor! Val, however, was awoken by the shaking and said to Tim that she thought it was a bit windy! You can imagine Tim's reply! It was severe enough to make the TV news!!

Had a walk around Christchurch and was shocked by the damage to the older buildings. The new buildings were fine.

Drove round the headland and over the summit road for the best views of Christchurch and the southern Alps.

Waiting at the airport for our flight to Auckland and then onto LA. We will arrive 7 hours before we leave! An interesting and VERY long day!

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 18

Left Dunedin making our way to Christchurch. Weather sunny but chilly due to the strong winds! Stopped to search for the rare yellow eyed penguins but only found a lonely sea lion!

Set off again and then stopped at Shag Point (well, you had to with a name like that!) to look for the rare blue penguins – these were the only sign of penguins we could find!

Continued journey and discussed the interesting entertainment that locals enjoy in the small towns here. In Hokitika we were lucky enough to get back to the hotel too late for the talk on Whitebait that didn't finish until 11pm! However, in Franz Josef, we just sat down for our meal, when a group of young mountain guides arrived. They all sat down and were enthralled by the talk (with power point slides) on the history of ice axes and crampons! We are now experts on this. Not something you experience over dinner in England!

Arrived in Christchurch and drove to the centre of the city where our hotel is situated and were surprised by the amount of destruction very close to our hotel. Lots of rubble still in the road and barriers everywhere. They are still experiencing after shocks, so we are keeping our fingers crossed for tonight!

Off to LA tomorrow.

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 17

Left Queenstown heading for Dunedin. Past thru' gold mining country but decided not to try our luck! No dramas on this trip other than a few blizzards! Drove up the coast – the gales were making huge waves and spectacular views! Arrived in Dunedin and visited Baldwin Street – the steepest street in the world.

Drove onto Otago Peninsular to see the nesting birds and seals.

Tried to find the yellow eyed penquins, but gales were so severe that we could hardly stand up. We were afraid of being blown off the cliffs!

Off to Christchurch tomorrow, hopefully our hotel is still standing? The weather forecast is more snow and gales. Apparently the after shocks from the earthquake are still going on! Something to look forward to tomorrow!

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 16

Glorious day – deep, fresh snow, blue skies and warm temperatures at last. Couldn't resist another day's skiing. Tim and John provided the entertainment by falling over in the deep snow!

Finished the day with 18 holes at Caddyshack City- the craziest of crazy golf – volcanos, chairlifts, rockets, castles, you name it, we played it! Tim won (obviously!).

Queenstown is our favourite place in new Zealand so far – stunning scenery, beautiful lake, mountains and so much to do!

Off to Dunedin tomorrow – the weather forecast is saying we will have another interesting journey due to heavy snow falls and gales! No change there then!

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 14 & 15

Well we didn't make it to Milford Sound! Drove half way and had to turn back due to land slide, heavy snow and fallen trees! Nowhere to stay as we should have been on the boat! Decided to make our way back towards Queenstown - wonderful scenery.

Came across a lovely little mining town called Arrowtown, very quaint and found a dodgy motel with a 2 bedroomed 'cottage'.

However, every cloud has a silver lining, so we decided to use our extra day for........

It was absolutely freezing with a gale blowing horizontally across the pistes making it very ICY! Val managed to fall off the lift getting on and off due to the ice. The chairlifts were swaying from side to side in the wind and they insisted on 4 people on each chair to keep them on the cable! Then they stopped them for 20 mins with Val & Tim sat in mid air freezing slowly! Val contemplated jumping off as she felt a broken leg would be preferable to frostbite! Liz & John got lost in the poor visibility and ended up as far away from the car as it was possible to be! However, all made it back more or less in one piece although very cold.

Treacherous journey back to Queenstown but wonderful views.

Looking forward to tomorrow's adventure!

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 13

Terrific thunder storm all night over head! Not much sleep for anyone due to the hailstones on the tin roof! Helicopter trip cancelled again!

Set off for Wanaka towards the Haast Pass. Weather deteriorating all the way and then it started to snow - it was magical!

However the magic soon wore off!

At least it wasn't us and no-one was hurt!

Eventually we ground to a halt as camper vans were stuck on a bridge. We turned around and then got stuck ourselves. We were facing the prospect of a night in the car!

Then we found the snow chains in the boot!

Off again slowly, stopping to help other stranded motorists!

Eventually arrived at Wanaka safe and sound and looking forward to tomorrows epic journey to Milford Sound (no blog tomorrow as we will be on the water overnight!)

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 12

Spent the night on the ground floor of the hotel due to the lift not working as a result of the earthquake! Doors opened onto the beach with huge rollers breaking outside our room -awesome!

Woke up to RAIN! Drove to Hokitika Gorge - fantastic scenery and glacier fed waters and a swingbridge (especially when Tim was jumping on it!). Very Indiana Jones!

Drove on to Franz Josef - still pouring with rain. Helicopter trip cancelled due to weather!! Liz said we could drive to the glacier? We drove as far as we could and then had to walk 3 miles to the glacier in the pouring rain! We got very wet!

Hope to try the helicopter tomorrow morning but unlikely due to snow forecast!

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 11

Left Nelson heading for Hokitika! Greatest drive in the world EVER! Throught the mountains and Buller Gorge and then onto the most amazing coastal drive you can imagine!

Then onto Westport and Cape Foulwind (who does that remind you of?). What a fantastic place, huge rollers coming onto a fantastic beach with no-one in sight!

Then onto the seal colony.

Yet another amazing picnic by the sea - the best yet!

Travelled onto Pancake Rocks with the sea gushing in and exploding out of holes in the rock!

After dinner in Hokitika we went in search of the Gloworm Dell, like twinkling fairy lights in all the trees and bushes.

An absolutely amazing day!

PS On the way home Tim saw this house for Vicky as it only needs a lick of paint!

Luv from the Mums xxx

Day 10

Drove past logging camp on the way to Nelson - another mountain road shortcut suggested by Liz!

Arrived at Nelson in the dark. The next morning we drove towards Abel Tasman National Park. Took a detour to Rabbit Island, but they were all out for the day - not a rabbit in sight! We had a wonderful beach picnic and were joined by all the local bird population after Val fed a duck!

Took another detour and met Hamish the Heron! He visits the fish shop every day for his dinner!

Then onto Cable Bay for the most breathtaking sea views!

Luv the Mums xxx

New Zealand Day 8 & 9

Drove to the biggest Windmill Farm in NZ accidently! Right on top of a mountain! Great views and very noisy! Tricky drive!

Had a beach picnic at lunchtime by the Tasman Sea.

Arrived at Martinborough - wine country! John & Tim found plenty to amuse them!

Streets were in the shape of a Union Jack!

Day 9

Drove to Wellington and had breakfast in the Chocolate Fish (used by the film crew of Lord of the Rings). Wonderful calm crossing to South Island ( no 40ft waves in the Cook Strait). Stunning scenery as we approached Picton.

Luv the Mums xx

New Zealand Day 7

Left Rotorua heading for Napier - the sun was shining and the birds were singing! First stop Huka Falls - amazing! We don't think Dave Goffe would fancy these waters!

Then onto Lake Taupo - largest lake in New Zealand for breakfast. Back in the car and over the mountains for Napier by the sea! Booked into the hotel, walked once round the town, biut were bored! So jumped back in the car to head for Ocean Beach and a stunning view of Cape Kidnappers!

Then onto Te Mateo Peak - a scary drive with sheer drops either side of the road and no barriers on the single track road. The views were worth the drive!

Just had dinner in the Hogs Breath Cafe! On to Martinborough tomorrow!

Luv from the Mums xx