But it’s not all about the All Blacks, almost but not quite. There is a celebration of all the nations taking part with shops and offices decked with flags and paraphernalia.  Provincial New Zealand towns adopting visiting teams with cultural celebrations and all round good kiwi hospitality.  Auckland is hosting the opening ceremony and the first match tonight.  There are thousands of people flocked to the waterfront to be part of this historic occasion.  By all accounts it’s like a New Year celebration on speed.

Aside from all the rugby rapture there is a healthy dose of cynicism of the commercial exploitation of this festival of sport.  Tickets are expensive making it out of the reach of many New Zealanders who are instead hunkering down to watch the match on one of the four terrestrial TV stations who will be covering matches.

I think it’s  fair to say that the only to avoid rugby mania is to leave the country altogether.  I suspect that I’ll be watching proceedings from the northern hemisphere when I head that way next week.  I’ll be back in time for the finale.  I’m betting (not really!) on it being an England and New Zealand final.  It would be nice to repeat the fairytale ending of 2003 but for my sanity and that of the rest of the country you’ve got to want the All Blacks to raise the cup.  In the meantime, it’s going to be fun to see how the country’s psyche copes with the mounting excitement and expectation.

Scanning the mass of concrete car parks between buildings I was working in, unsurprisingly my eye caught a wonderful oak tree with almost all it’s leaves gone.  A sure sign that winter is here even if this unseasonably warm weather is confusing everyone.  Said oak tree is immediately behind the parliament building and whilst I was skulking between the park cars a photojournalist came along and stopped me.

At first I thought I was going to get a lecture on the protocols of taking photographs within feet of the Parliament building but no instead he told me a story of how this oak tree was one of the originals planted and saved from removal by journalists who mounted a campaign to save the oak from being cut down when the car park was built.  We then chatted about how hard it was to get a decent shot of the tree without a backdrop of hundreds of cars before he walked off to his next assignment.

Who says that journalists are all cynical and unfriendly?

Before we set foot on the boat we were promised Hector Dolphins, Penguins, Seals and plenty of birds.  And boy did they deliver a show for us that afternoon.

The first creature we saw was a Little Blue Penguin.  They are tiny – the world’s smallest penguin – but still have that attraction that all other penguins have to me.  Their cheeky charm was hard to appreciate fully as they bobbed around in the harbour but it was clear by the prolific numbers that these were happy penguins out for a spot of feeding.

There was plenty of competition for the fish though from the Cormorants that littered the rocks along the harbour.

There was a small colony of New Zealand Seals were out playing and sun bathing – real crowd pleasers. I couldn’t help being amused at this little chap’s regal stance sitting on the rocks.

As we headed out into the Pacific Ocean the real stars of the show came into view the much talked about Hector Dolphins,  It was quite something to see so many dolphins in one place.  They were total show offs swimming alongside the boat, smiling and waving at all the camera’s pointed at them.  They were mesmorising to watch.

For all the cuteness of the dolphins they were rather upstaged by a couple of Albatrosses flying around the boat.  I’d first seen an Albatross more than 10 years ago in Dunedin where I almost fell over the edge of a cliff as it came in to land at it’s nesting site.  I was taking more care this time around and just stood still as these magnificent birds glide and swoop as they looked for a fish snack.

All in all this was a boat trip to truly remember.  As we supped our afternoon tea after all the marine entertainment I was struck by how lucky we were to see such magnificent wildlife at close quarters.

As the sun shimmered on the water it was hard not to feel at peace with the world.  A moment of tranquility – just as nature intended.

Although I was tempted to swim I didn’t have my togs.  Skinny dipping was an option but for the two men who cruised into the bay with their boat.  I’m shy like that.

Behind the beach was a small settlement of houses and baches. If I were ever to want a place at the beach this would be the sort of place I’d like. A secret enclave with just a few people around to know that you’re not completely on your own.

There is nothing like a stroll on the beach and looking out to sea. It’s places like this that you get perspective on New Zealand’s true isolation from the rest of the world.  Straight ahead several thousand miles away is South America.  Nothing in between.

At least I have a few hundred photographs to remind me of the few glorious days we’ve spent down south. This time I’m really, not really I mean it, determined to get some prints for the walls of this rather special place.

I can imagine in high season that the place is bustling with people. But it seems quiet now amplifying the tranquility.  I dare say this view hasn’t changed in years.  For all the quaint stores, art galleries and eateries Akaroa harbour is most certainly the star of the show.

No doubt that I was a little nervous touching down in Christchurch.  So far so good and long may it stay that way for Cantabrians.  With the bassets being indulged at home with house sitters we’re foot loose for a few days.

We are also surrounded by one of the biggest industries in New Zealand, forestry.  This means the trees that flank the hillsides are destined for the chop and ultimately into the wood market.  And when this happens it’s not a pretty sight.

None the less there are some amazing views, hills to climb and things to spy on our walks.  Today the bassets and I hiked up to the airfield where the local gliding club is based.

This is not a walk for the faint-hearted.  As you might expect, it’s uphill all the way!

This was pioneer territory for the bassets.  They were thrilled I can tell you.  New sights, sounds and most importantly new stuff to smell.

The first things we came upon were strange.  Cultivated flowers in the hedgerow.

And this….

Forgive my ignorance but when did lillies grow in hedgerows? Never mind, let’s move onto forestry.  There are bigger things than flowers to grab you here.  What about being grabbed by one of these?

This is what they use to grab the trees and logs when they’ve been chain sawed down. It’s a big beast.

Here it is in action. Well, not this exact one but others in the foresters armoury.

There is plenty to grab around here.  And then the logs are stamped and piled ready for transport.

Those trees and bits of trees don’t make the grade end up here.

Local people can come along and take what they want from these piles.  If you have a chain saw, a trailer and the where withall to make that happen.  Currently we don’t so we buy our logs from one of our neighbours who does all the hard graft instead.  Maybe one day we’ll join the annual log grab.

It’s a shame when you see the trees like this.

But it’s sheer economics.  People need wood so New Zealanders grow trees to cut down and supply the wood.  Simple really.  Just like any other farming venture.  Working in forestry looks dangerous and hard work.  Even if they do use lots of machinery to do the really hard stuff.

I wasn’t getting too close but was fascinated by these guys in action.

But we couldn’t hang around all day watching forestry in action.  We had places to see.

This is our local airfield where the gliding club is based.  It’s a primative affair but is in regular use most weekends.  Watching those gliders fly over our house is quite something. This is where they keep the gliders and little plane that takes them up.  If you don’t make the runway first time you’re in trouble!

The bassets were delighted at this point as it was all down hill from here.  We swung around the top of the hill track and were able to continue to watch the forestry under way.

I am still in awe of the mountainous backdrop.  Even if it is just a large field of trees growing tall and waiting to be cut down.