To sum it all up - best, worst and most interesting

What an incredible holiday!

With two J's in the family, to make it easier M = Jane (mum)

Best accommodation

D    Stewart Island Backpackers

M   Apartment in Christchurch

L    Apartment in Christchurch

J    Slope Point Cottage


Worst accommodation

D    Timaru

M   Lake Ruataniwha 

L    Lake Ruataniwha

J    Timaru


Top 3 places on the trip

D    Aoraki Village, Stewart Island, Lake Hauroko Jet boat trip

M   Invercargill, Stewart Island, Aoraki Village

L    Stewart Island, Fiordland, Aoraki

J    Stewart Island, Aoraki, The Catlins


Top 3 places on the trip to go back to

D    Stewart Island, Aoraki, Southern Scenic Highway

M   Whitestone Cheese Diner and Cafe, Aoraki Village, Nugget Point

L    Aoraki, Timaru, Invercargill

J    Oamaru, Stewart Island, Aoraki,

 

Most frustrating

D    Tram ride around Christchurch wasn't always available with so many people wanting it, and missing the last loop

M   Connecting via bluetooth to the car

L    Jonty on the bus ride back from the glacier experience

J    Wifi at Lake Ruataniwha (and the TV and the beds and the kitchen)


Biggest Surprise

D    Riverton/Aparima

M   Invercargill (oh and there's a gold mine in the middle of the South Island)

L    Invercargill

J    Timaru's 'other' side


Funniest

D    Guide Tom on the Glacier Experience 

M   realising with only a few days left of the journey, that connecting via bluetooth was a simple button push, as was changing the radio station

L    Dad at the church at Stewart Island

J    Dad.


Worth the money

D    Christmas Lunch at the Heritage

M   Jet boat down the river

L    Jet boat down the river, going to Stewart Island

J    Lost Gypsy (even though we didn't pay it due to the coffee incident)


NOT Worth the money

D    Steampunk HQ

M   Lunch at Kaka Point

L   Cathedral Caves

J    Cathedral Caves


Best Purchase

D    New Hat

M   Buttons made from 2c coins

L    Headphones 

J    Toblerone x 5, Cucumber, Dressing gown & Slippers


Anything else to add

D    If I moved to Dunedin it would be Portobello where he'd live. The remoteness of the Catlins is pretty cool. Very special going to the Church of the Good Shepherd.

M   GF toasties rule! Every cafe should offer them. Gemstone beach is cool but I'd go again without children. The Pacific Plate yields very, very good rocks. Don't visit Timaru in the weekend, don't visit the Catlins on a weekday. 

L    Squid Games was pretty good. I wished I could have driven in the South Island. Seals are a bit mid, penguins are cool.

J    We now all know mum doesn't like bath bombs. The art collection has grown. RIP Snowy.

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