New Zealand

Definitely a ‘Favourite’ place, having visited there for the first time in 2015, driving round both the North & South islands over a six week period and then again, in early 2020, this time spending a month touring the South Island.

It’s definitely more desolate and the scenery more spectacular - and less busy than the North. The Southern Alps, which run pretty well the length of the South Island, create a divide between the green, and sometimes very wet, West coast and the drier lands of the east side.

Driving’s really easy, the roads are good and, particularly in the South, empty. We stayed in motels which were everywhere and, usually, very reasonably priced, clean and well-equipped.

Highlights were Doubtful Sound, the area around Glenorchy (north of Queenstown) and the desolate West coast.