moving around

Here are the pancake rocks at Punakaiki.
the strata in the rocks have worn away, making them look like a pile of pancakes. There are stacks and arches, and it looks a bit like Marsden Rock only more so, and a lot warmer

This is the blow hole just round the corner. It only works at high tide, and then only when there's a big wave, but it's pretty impressive. 

I promised you a picture from Abel Tasman National Park: this is the estuary we walked round. You can see the tree ferns in the fore-ground.

After we left Nelson, we moved on to Blenheim, which is the centre for the Marlborough wine-making area. We went on a wine tasting tour, visiting 4 wineries. Here is one of them

(no, the gentleman on the left is not at prayer). It was quite difficult to remember to sip, and not to drink the lot each time. We tasted over 20 wines in total, so that would hav been rather a lot
We've moved on to Kaikoura now, where we hope to do some whale-watching tomorrow, weather permitting. This area is reknowned for its crayfish, and this is dinner:-

Sorry it's a bit blurred, but it was very Yummy

I went to a carol service in the local church this evening. We sang all the usual ones, but also a couple of Kiwi carols:
   Carol our Christmas,
   An upside-down Christmas
   Snow is not falling
   And trees are not bare
   Carol the summer
   And welcome the Christchild
   Warm in our sunshine and sweetness of air

Now I know it's nearly Christmas