Made it!

Today was 100% driving, so no photos or stories, I'm afraid.  I left Wanaka at 8:00 this morning, and after many many lots stops for coffee, food and short strolls in more pouring rain, I've arrived in Motueka, on the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park.

It's not the worlds nicest campsite - I believe the term is "family friendly", so it's fairly sprawling and garish.  But it has a few advantages which made me decide to stay.  Firstly, it's walking distance from the beach, so tomorrow I can leave the van parked up and try and remember how to use my legs for long enough to go sit on some sand.  Secondly, it has a variety of services including transport to and from a section of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track.  So Boxing Day will see me getting a water taxi up the coast, walking a 14km stretch back again and picking up another water taxi back to the campsite.

After that, I'm sad to say, it will be time to say goodbye to the South Island, and switch myself to the North.  I'm currently hunting out guided walks for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.  I'm sure someone somewhere must be going up between 28th December and 6th Jan.....  Fingers crossed that I manage to find them!

Hope you all have a warm and toasty Christmas (or at least that nobody's central heating breaks down at just the wrong time)!