New Zealand's South Island

New Zealand, South Island, by Daniele Somenzi with Donato. We land in Auckland coming from the Samoan Islands, and continue to Christchurch. For Donato it's the first time in this splendid country free of crime and stress. Rental car and we head straight north, where we immediately see seals in the sea; the water temperature says it all, right? In Picton we stop at a caravan park and with the inflatable dinghy brought from Italy we take a little trip around the secluded bay, too beautiful, for 2 like us who live in a country of 60 million inhabitants while here there are only 4. On the way back I take my small folding bike from the boot and since there are 5 km of downhill, I let Donato drive (his first time alone, because he had a learner's permit, and also his first time in an automatic car). What a joy with the bike around these magnificent places.

The next day we set off for Nelson and take another dinghy ride, but careful, here there are whales and dolphins; unfortunately though the drizzle makes us come back early, so no cetaceans. In the following days, day after day, we have experiences more unique than rare, one of the most beautiful trips of my life. Starting with grabbing ostriches by the neck and laughing our heads off non-stop, then landing on the glacier by helicopter, and again with the speedboat in Queenstown at full speed along rivers full of rocks, and on a farm watching sheep being shorn. New Zealand is another planet. So far I've only been there 5 times and I hope to go at least fifteen times before kicking the bucket. bye