Day 100 - Reminders of summer

Even in what feels like the depths of winter, New Zealand can throw up a surprise of an evening like this, when a bright blue sky turns dark with a sunset like the best of summer.

Day 99 - Wetas

I'd been in New Zealand only a few hours when I encountered my first weta - the terrifying-looking insect made famous by Hobbit director Peter Jackson, who named his Weta Workshop visual effects house after them. Apparently they're an endangered species so I have to be nice about them, but for someone with bordering on clinical arachnophobia, the sight of a two inch, armour plated, spike legged, air-bourne beast like this one nearly had me running straight back to the aeroplane that brought me here...

Day 98 - The White Lady

Every town needs a food van to satisfy those late night cravings for chips or to soak up some of the alcohol after an evening of excess. Auckland's is more iconic than most, the White Lady having served up midnight burgers and hotdogs since just after the War, and even in daylight it stands as one of the city's most historic sights.

Day 97 - The Viaduct's Te Wero Bridge

I've always found something hypnotic about those bridges that slowly open, lift and drop to let through passing vessels and this one in the Auckland Viaduct's Wynyard precinct is no exception.

Day 96 - Gibbs Farm

The very definition of a 'hidden gem', Gibbs Farm in the Kaipara Harbour to the north west of Auckland is almost totally unknown to the average Kiwi on the street and is criminally overlooked by the guidebooks. And yet I've just spent one of my most inspiring days out ever at this giant sculpture park, where world-class works of supersized art, stunning views of the surrounding natural landscape and free-roaming imported animals (emus, buffalo, zebra) combine to provide a mesmeric experience for kids and adults alike.

Day 95 - Auckland's Asian Food Courts

Asian food is never in a short supply in Auckland and you don't need to pay through the nose to get the good stuff. The food courts off Ponsonby Road and Queen Street are favourite spots for a quick, cheap and always tasty feed, and the portions are almost embarrassingly generous.

Day 94 - Kumeu country walks

I had the good fortune to be able to live in the countryside when I first moved to New Zealand and long walks through the rolling fields and gentle hills of Kumeu to the west of Auckland were a real highlight of my time there. So when a free weekend presents the opportunity to revisit the area and get back to nature, I don't need much convincing.