We had breakfast and left Manakau Lodge just after 08.45 for what was to be a 5.5 hour journey. As expected the highway to the south of Kaikoura was closed due to landslides so we had to travel back to Waiau on the inland road, the first 10km was OK but as we started to climb higher it started to rain and the roadworks we had flown (?) through on Sunday were now being worked on so we had to pay more attention to the speed limit and also stop as many of them were down to one way. We also had to contend with more traffic and in particular more trucks including double bogey petrol tankers coming into Kaikoura, this being the only way fuel can get in, so as fast as they are repairing elements of the road the traffic is breaking it down again. This road was never meant to carry either the volume or actual weight of the traffic using it, it is narrow, windy and in poor condition and of course the earthquake damage has just made it worse. All they need now is some more heavy rain and then that road will also be closed and Kaikoura will be cut off again. At least we don't have to do that again. Of course the whole reason of going there for us was unfortunately cancelled because of the weather. We stopped briefly in Waiau for the loo, it had taken us 2 hours to do 70km, at times we could only do 15kph due to the road conditions.

After Waiau it was Culverden then to Waipara where we rejoined SH1, although the traffic was slightly heavier the weather improved and so did the condition of the road. We continued towards Christchurch which we were bypassing, part of the approach into Christchurch is actually called a motorway! It is basically a dual carriageway and is about 8 miles or so long. South of Christchurch the traffic lightened considerably and the land became less lush with many of the fields and hillside being brown. The Banks Peninsula doesn't get enough rain to support everybody and there are water restrictions in place, a hosepipe ban! The first part of the road on the peninsula was flat and mostly straight but for the last 10km we again climbed the hill via a series of hairpin bends and of course what goes up must come down. The sat-nav app on my phone did its job and before getting into Akaroa we got to Robinson's Bay and turned off to the left and the small approach road to The Olive Grove, the owners do have a grove of olives and have an olive oil tasting room and sell a range of olive based products. It was now 14.30. We moved our luggage, had a quick cup of tea and then drove the 6k or so into Akaroa, it is only a small place with a population of about 1000 but cruise ships stop in harbour and move their passengers in and out by tender. The was a ship in the harbour so the small town was slightly busy but quietened down considerably as time went by. We picked up our voucher for tomorrows jaunt on the mail run and walked along the bay side for a while, there is an old small lighthouse at the far end of the bay, this has been moved from its original position, it was closed!

We walked back looking at various restaurants, we booked a table for tomorrow night at one our hosts recommended, it also has some good TripAdvisor reviews but then so do some Subways, we shall see. We ended up eating in the local Thai and it was very good, small place, formica tables but the food was great. We drove back, stopped to take some photos on the way. Everyone we met says the weather should improve, it shouldn't be this bad this time of year. At the moment it is blowing a bit of a gale but the view out of the window is fantastic or at least it was until it went dark

We may look at harbour cruises tomorrow afternoon after we return from delivering the mail.