What a gorgeous start to 2018 we're getting in the South Island of NZ. With family in the UK, this year's Christmas break has again been a fantastic opportunity to capitalise on most people staying home with the whanau and instead head out into the hills. After a long think about possible destinations we took a firend's advice and headed up to Murchison and then into the Matiri Valley and the 1000-acre plateau for a 4 night trip. It's always tough trying to second-guess what

What's that expression? A face only a mother could love... incredibly in just a few short weeks these poorly bedraggled tufts of fluff will be taking flight. We finally managed to arrange a trip to Okarito recently, for a trip out to the Whataroa White Heron sanctuary with Dion from http://whiteherontours.co.nz/. Despite the (let's face it pretty hideous) weather, many of the stunning white heron (Kotuku) were there and nesting. The first chicks hatched about 4 days' prior to