Unfortunately we have to admit: it is true the South Island is more spectacular than the North Island.
The planning for the total kms to be driven was 3.500. After leaving the North Island we already drove 2.500 km. Therefore, a decision was made: to make our journey more enjoyable we skip some parts on the South Island. Starting off on the east coast, going down south through the Catlins and the Fjordlands we finally made a turn West to our final destination Queenstown.
Surprisingly Evas birthday came up on our way from North to South. It would have been the best birthday ever… The day started with a perfect breakfast: croissants, a birthday cake and a great latte macchiato while enjoying the view of the snow-capped mountains. At noon we were booked-in a whale watching tour in Kaikoura, where marine animals (e.g. whales, dolphins) are plentiful and year around to be seen. But as it turned out the day was only almost perfect. The amazingly sunny day without any clouds turned out to be too stormy for our tour so that they canceled the trip only 1 hour prior to departure. After receiving the bad news we did not burry our heads in the sand: we drove towards the south along the beautiful coast with some nice stops for short walks. In the evening Niels tried to make-up for the canceled trip by building Eva her own private cinema in the camper including homemade popcorn. Although the whale-watching tour would have been nice, it was one of the best birthdays Eva ever had.
Next stop Christchurch. The city is impressive – we did know about the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 but had no idea about the destruction it caused (70% of the buildings in the CBD have been torn downby now). Although it’s been nearly 4 years by now you still see a huge amount of empty spaces and ruins. In the first place it gave us the impression of a depressive place but as we found out the city has a vibrant and livingly atmosphere. Ever since the vision how the city will be rebuild was introduced a lot changed.
The Catlins are a combination of farmland, waterfalls, roaring waves, large beaches and steep cliffs. Especially, the walk along the Surat Bay where sunbathing Sea Llions lay around everywhere was great.
Birthday view from our campground
Eva on her 31st birthday (age is just a number)
Views along the beautiful East Coast 
Private Cinema
Insights of Christchurch
The Moeraki Boulders are unusually large and round boulders lying along the Koekohe Beach. You can see them either isolated or widespread. 
Nugget Point in the Catlins on a stormy day 
Huge seaweed in the Curio Bay which Niels found more interesting than the famous petrified forest (around 180 million years old).
View during day and sunset from our campground in the Catlins
Our favorite place in the Catlins: Surat bay with its Sealions and the view from the hill at the end of the bay, where we laid down in the grass enjoying the sun.
The Purakaunui Falls are one of most-photographed waterfalls in New Zealand