Well today is our last full day in this area and we headed north along the coast to see our favourite viewing spot of the seals. When we saw the seals, this time the Dolphins came in quite close! I was making a little video of the seals for Lily Louis and Otis (and for Anona and everyone else of course) and so I managed to video the Dolphins too. See I was in the right place at the right time.

We went up as far as the vineyards at Ward and were amazed how many acres of vines there were in every direction over the hill sides.

Back at the motel we are throwing excess baggage away ready for the flight to North island. It’s amazing how much we have to throw out!

here hopefully are the photos of the west coast storm never to be repeated in my lifetime I hope! Xxxx

This is Roaring Billy,normally a little trickle onto a broad dry gravel river bed not a violent river we saw after the storm.

This river was swollen and very fast flowing you wouldn’t stand a chance if you fell in it, again normally it is much smaller and calmer . We thought all the waterfalls we saw ll along the mountains in the gorge were mind-blowingly full and beautiful,

can you see how close the water is to the roads as it finds its way down to the river.

After we took these photos the rain got worse and worse and carried on for another 48 hours. we were pleased to leave Haast to go to Greymouth, but travelled in torrential rain all the way to Greymouth.