7. Wellington & southern North Island, New Zealand

Leaving Taupo, we encountered the only bit of rain during our stay in New Zealand. Our trek took us south through the dramatic landscapes of the Desert Road, through the Rangitikei, and on to Feilding, where Nick went to boarding school from 1977 to 1981.

Following this trip down memory lane, we navigated the impressive Manawatu Gorge and entered the Wairarapa, a farming area on the east coast of the North Island. We stopped for dinner in Martinborough, an up and coming wine region.

On the morning of the 10th of January we reached Wellington, the capital, and home to Nick for 3 years between 1982 and 84, when he attended Victoria University (somewhat unsuccessfully). We found the old student hostel and the house in Aro Street, where Nick lived.

Wellington is beautifully located on an immense natural harbour aand surrounded by dramatic hills and mountains. It's called the Windy City, and there's no mistaking the gusto with which the wind whips through the streets.

We went to see the Return of the King in the same cinema where the world premiere was held, the Embassy. The Lord of the Nazgul was giving us the evil eye as we entered. What an experience! We also got most of postcards written and sent off from here.

We did some shopping and Úna got a great haircut somewhere on Lambton Quay. The weather was perfect, though windy, and we saw some of the outlying suburbs, beautifully located along the coast. From Wellington we took the ferry across Cook Strait to Picton.