OK. We've been doing the land touring thing for a few weeks now, so here's a few observations on New Zealand.

Firstly, the roads must have been built before straights were invented. The highways, and indeed the byways, are a never ending succession of corners, mostly in a range from "Oooh, that's tight" to "Whooaaa that's alpine hairpin". Most come supplied with a complimentary logging truck hurtling towards you, offside wheels on your side of the road.

Best strategy is to get behind a reasonably paced big campervan, or better still, another logging truck, suck up the fumes but have them clear the road for you.

Next up is that most places are named twice.

A bit like someone with a stammer trying to give you directions, Take-Take first left, then go straight-straight for two miles and head for Kaiteriteri then right at sign for Matakitaki. It's all quite confusing.

Post earthquake the main drag down to Christchurch is blocked so every bit of motorised transport, mostly heavy, is using the back road. The tourists in their lumbering camper vans most be loving it. More so Kwik Clutch & Brakes.

On the subject of lumbering, having been suggesting for weeks that, "wouldn't it be nice if we had a wee boat", we booked in for three days of a five day "Classic Kayak Tour" in the Abel Tasman national park. Now, obviously Abel had sails, and probably even a crew to row him around. He certainly didn't paddle a bucket of a double kayak upwind for more kilometres than my shoulders could stand.....and then camp on the ground in the bugs and rain. Well, maybe he had the bugs and rain. Tent as well I suppose.

Other than the aching shoulders and blisters it was a picturesque paddle with sea lions, cormorants and an impressive coastline. Just a shame it moved so slowly past. Fortunately they only had room for us for three days. Not sure we'd have lasted five.

Another observation is that jolly old New Zealand is pretty pricey. Now, while I'll confess to not actually knowing how much a pint of milk is back home, I did check, and a pie, the staple diet of most New Zealander's, is twice the price here. And remember that weeny bottle of beer for $9.50? Haven't had a drink for weeks!

We're now in the South Island heading for an appointment with Bruce Springsteen in Christchurch. Tonight and tomorrow night we're in Westport. I think one night would have done. While clean and tidy, it's a bit of a frontier look, one horse town and that horse bolted a while ago for the bright lights of Nelson.

However, one thing New Zealand has done well is inventing activities to relieve passing tourists of their hard earned cash. So, tomorrow we have a choice of surf lessons, try your hand at panning for gold, a visit to the old coal mine or, my favourite, a free walk on the beach.