Cruising around...

I haven't been up to too much since getting back from New Zealand. My latest obsession is the Lindt Cafe (53 Martin Place) where everything contains some kind of Lindt chocolate (except the sandwiches of course... that would just be a little strange). The good people at Lindt decided to open their first cafe worldwide here in Sydney, and I've become a regular customer. I think I must have been there at least once a week for the last month... The photos are from when I took Bindu there on her last trip back to Sydney... She seemed to enjoy the experience.

My recommendations are the dark hot chocolate and the Lindt brownie. I'm also a massive fan of the Creme Brulee block of chocolate.

Anyhow, other than chocolate, I've spent a couple of days in Wangaratta (country Victoria) for work, which was quite pleasant. It's a pretty little country town. Not sure yet if I'll do the ski trip when I back there in July. It's quite conveniently located an hour or so from the Victorian ski-fields.

New Zealand Trip photos

Sign warning us of kiwis. We didn't see any!

View of Christchurch from the Gondola, with the Southern Alps in haze 

As we punted along the Avon... 

Beautiful autumn in Christchurch, near the Avon River 

Here I am at the Waiau River 

Waiau River near Hanmer Springs 

Autumn trees near St Arnaud 

St Arnaud 

Collingwood, Golden Bay 

Trying to fit everything into the boot of our tiny car! 

Takaka Hill 

Marlborough is a beautiful spot in Autumn, with the added attraction of wineries!! 

The view of Marlborough Sounds from near Picton 

Here I am on Marlborough Sounds on NZ's South Island 

My friend Bindu at the top of the Cable Car in Wellington 

Here I am on the cable car in Wellington! 

Lighthouse at Castlepoint 

Castlepoint, New Zealand 

Bindu and Jose at Staglands, Upper Hutt 

New Zealand trip

Just got back from New Zealand last night... Had a fantastic trip - NZ is such a beautiful country. This time, I went with Claire, and spent the ANZAC day weekend in Wellington with Bindu who showed us most of the main sights and played hostess to us (even cooking a fantastic Keralan chicken curry!!). Wellington certainly proved itself in the weather stakes. In one day, we got heavy rain, drizzle, sun, cloud, wind and hail.

From Wellington we caught the ferry to the South Island, and spent some time in Picton, and the Marlborough Sounds region. We also sampled some of the Marlborough wines and found a few new favourites. (Brought some back with me too... so some of you may be lucky enough to try it!) Then we travelled up to Nelson, and the Takaka/Golden Bay area, which is pretty spectacular, and then travelled through the Nelson Lakes region and Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs we we booked in for the girls pamper pack... Definitely highly recommended.

After Hanmer we headed down to Christchurch where we travelled through the Banks Peninsula to Akaroa, and in town wandering through the magnificent autumn scenery in Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens. It's such a beautiful city at this time of year... We even took a punt ride down the Avon, and a trip up the Christchurch Gondola (gives a great view of the city and the alps, and also over Lyttelton harbour).

So overall, a great holiday, and well needed... Now it's back to work to sort out everything that's piled up in the last week... Will post some photos soon.