After Kaikoura we drove towards Queenstown, stopping for the night by the side of lake Pukaki - a wonderful wild spot with fabulous views of Mount Cook - the highest mountain in New Zealand. We had originally planned to stop at lake Tekapo, but it was rather busy - good thing too as the site we finally found was idyllic.

We set of early next day for the drive to Queenstown, as we planned to find a campsite early - total lack of success - the town was very busy for two reasons - one was that West Indian cricket team were playing a match there, the second was that it was New Years Eve and there were planned fireworks and a concert by the lake. No wild camping is allowed in this area.

We decided to travel out of town to Arrowtown - close enough to get a bus in for New Years celebrations - and also we wanted to visit the town as Bob Hubert was brought up there - his father was the Postmaster, and the old Postmaster's house where he lived is now a posh restaurant. We managed to squeeze into the town site and went to explore the town. It is a fascinating and very picturesque place. It was a major gold mining town, and was first settled by Chinese who came over to search for gold in the river.

We tried to get a booking for New Year at the Postmaster's House restaurant, but was fully booked, booked for the following night instead. Decided we would get a bus from the campsite into Queenstown to join the festivities, but that was before the rain started. It bucketed down and we decided to have a good meal in instead and watch a video before seeing the New Year in with a glass of bubbly - rather boring, but probably more enjoyable than getting soaked in Queenstown.