I have arrived in Christchurch. A charming small city with a lot of character. There are more churches than policemen, more trams than trucks and more public chess boards than public phone boxes. It has incredible botanic gardens and a lot more besides, but...

Eager to get moving i have spent the majority of the day looking into the best way to get around the country. The most popular method is a bus network marketed as "Magic Bus - The choice for every independent traveler". Apart from this being a contradiction in terms, I have major issues with any vehicle that is referred to as being 'Magic'. The last thing you want when you're on a bridge 150m above a gorge is a driver who thinks he's in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Its also VERY expensive. The prices jacked up to include unnecessary accommodation advice and girls in low cut tops trying to get you to jump out of a plane.

Plan B - I'll take the TranzAlpine train tomorrow morning to Greymouth on the west of the south island, and work my way down from there to the glaciers, mountains etc. The train journey is supposidly one of the most impressive in the world, and cuts straight through the heart of Tolkien scenery.... Then I'll find some girls in low cut tops to make me jump out of a plane.