You hear everything at ground level in your tent so much so every noise, every pindrop sounds as though its right next to you. Unbeknown to me the campsite was beside the beach (it was hidden behind a hedge) and I awoke to the waves peacefully lapping onto the shore. If ever there was a more natural alarm clock I've yet to find it. 
With a spring in my step I headed for a spring. Infact I headed for Waikoropupu springs which are Australasias largest springs and the worlds clearest fresh water. Having made an early start I was the only one there except for Roddy the trout.....can you see him (lower left in pic). I'd never seen a trout rise for a fly before as all the waters I'm used to are a peaty black colour so here was my chance. I felt like I was poised like a wildlife documentary cameraman as I watched Roddy hover about a metre below the surface, he spots his fly and with no rush at all he just glides to the surface, opens his mouth and blip the fly is Roddy's and only ripples spread gently out across the water to mark the flys departure .
What a great start to my day in perfect peace and with that I headed for the topmost North West part of the South island....confused?....Dont worry so am I. The place is called "Farewell Spit" as its New Zealands larget sandbank and as I plan shortly to leave this wonderful island it would seem only appropriate to say "Farewell" but without the spit part. The balcony of the visitors centre afforded a great view of the sandbank and it also affored a huge piece of chocolate, marshmallow and nuts Rocky Road and a bowl of Cafe Late. There is no messing with the kiwis. You can have your latte in a cup or a bowl. None of the fancy words like "Grande"... 
Now my last stop of the day had to be Ngarau cave whose sign says it all. Who better to deliver this promise than Mike our guide for the afternoon who owns the licence to show visitors into the 330 metre deep stalactite and stalagmite infested cavern. 
(Pic - Mike sends us in)
Much like the cave itself Mike's dialogue became darker and darker the more we progressed. Whereupon as we reached the point of no return Mike explained no light particles from outside could reach us now and should the lights go off our eyes would be unable to process the complete darkness and would never find their way out........Yep....Mike turned the lights off.
Now at this point I recalled Mike carried only the smallest of battery torches.
The lights remained off.
The lights did not come back on. Mike seemed to make whimpering uneasy noises.
I found the exit. I eat a lot of carrots.
As we returned to our cars Mike showed us various potholes barricaded off as years ago the ancient and now extinct Moa bird had fallen down them and in more recent times, humans, sheep and dogs......it was time to leave!
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