If you were to ask me where my favourite place in New Zealand is I would be hard pressed for an answer. Notwithstanding that I haven't by any means been to all the "touristy" places, let alone some of the gems tucked away that nearly no-one knows about. Such is the magic of this country and the variety of its landscape and attractions.

Living in the tourist mecca of Far North of New Zealand for a number of years, I still hadn't done the "touristy" things - partly because I was just too busy. But in this last couple of weeks I have had visitors from the UK - a lifelong friend fom my University days in Zimbabwe and his wife. These wonderful visitors made me do some touristy stuff at last.