Many thanks for your comments. All 2 of them. Anyway, advice has been heeded (thanks, Anthony) and we’ll be whale-watching and swimming with dolphins in Akaroa instead of Kaikora.

Rest of the trip involves the usual – volcanoes, glow worms, wine and great scenery. All thanks to the NZ Tourist Board map, a fantastic interactive flash app. Love it.

I finally got in touch with my bro, and we seemed to have planned a two-stage journey. The first leg involves ‘borrowing’ a car to drive to Picton. The next leg involves the same with a camper van. Something to do with driving cars back to Auckland. Sounds fun. And cheap.

Now if only I could sort out the first bit…