Abel Tasman National Park

A great finish to the South Island

In the course of this trip, the group of people I've developed a special admiration for - apart from the inventors of the credit card - are the explorers like Abel Tasman and Captain Cook. Tasman discovered New Zealand in 1642, having literally journeyed into the unknown. Cook came a century or so later, using his brillant sea-faring and mapping skills to make sense of it. Impressive men, and more civilised than some of today's international adventurers.

The thing that used to astound me most about Cook was this. On returning from the hardships and deprivations of a round-the-world voyage, the first thing he did was: start planning the next one. Now I'm beginning to get a better understanding...

If Tasman was a special sort of bloke, he gave his name to a pretty special National Park which we visited today. You won't be surprised to hear that we opted for the coastal cruise rather than the inland trek, so we saw a stunning series of coves and beaches, with crystal-clear green water.

And, naturally, dolphins. Having scoured the world for them without success, we're now fighting them off.

Well, that's our last main stop in South Island - tomorrow we go to Picton in readiness for the inter-island crossing to Wellington. Meanwhile, nervously awaiting overnight news of Norwich v Southampton....