Dunedin, Stewart Island and a few adventures in between

Hi one and all.
Okay, so I know it has taken me two months to compose this entry but you know perfection takes time!
In case anyone was worried I am fine, I haven't fallen off the end of the earth. We are back on the north island, in a groovy little place called Raglan - it's where they filmed the cult surf film Endless Summer.
So anyway here's a run down of the last two months. Percy was still giving us troubles in Dunedin, so instead of sitting in the city and sulking we buggered off to an even more remote island called Stewart Island. We could have done the famous and well marked track that takes three days and two nights but of course that would make life too easy and so we opted for a few extra days in the wilds and a not so accessible track. When I say not so accessible, what I mean to say is this: wading through mud waist high, torrential winds and rain and being caught with me pants down (literally) by a fellow hiker. Nonetheless it was all good fun, we saw a kiwi (yes!) and made good friends with the hiker I flashed!
After a bit of a scrub up it was time for some farm fun on the island of Inchclutha, near Balclutha. I got the chance to learn about herbs and composting, play in the vegetable garden and discover that poison hemlock will make you hallucinate. Tom flexed his muscles chopping wood, plucking and removing the innards of a chicken and generally doing boy things! The wonderful time we had was all thanks to the lovely Erin, whose love of life, kind-heart and delicious cooking made it hard for us to to leave (cheers Erin). But leave we did, leaving Percy behind! That's right after three months of the arse bleeding us dry of our well earned holiday cash he decided not to pass his WOF (the equivalent of our MOT). It was going to cost us a tidy sum to try and get him through so we called it a day.
Anyway after a brief stop over at Christchurch (great city) we picked up out rental car known as the Juicy Crib (that's what the rental company call it not us) and headed for some action on the slopes of the cold, soft stuff at Mount Hutt, Methven. But when we arrived the slopes were closed and there was just rain-snow joke! (ha) Anyway after holding out for a day and a half we finally got some action, I with the cool cats snowboarding and Tom with the slightly older crowd and little more stooped in their stance skiers!
Rivalry aside we spent three glorious days throwing ourselves down the slopes and getting black and blue!
Obviously, after that fun we needed a rest so we headed to Kaikoura. What a wonderful place. Here the mountains meet the sea and definitely my all time favourite south island destination. Even the sun shone, I should also mention that we saw seven sperm whales and 300 (yep 300) Dusky Dolphins. The word awesome springs to mind.
Since then we have cruised up and over to the north island, been moved on from our camping spot by an affable security guy and taken in some beautiful beaches. From now on it's north all the way back home. Of course there is the little matter of stopping off at Fiji, Raratonga and the US first!
Take care one and all. See you soon (ish)
Caroline xxx