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Okopuko

Rainbow's End Set on a hillside, with astounding views, Okopuko Farm is the most peaceful place - although the rainbow in the picture (the farm is the collection of buildings at its end) heralded some fantastic thunder storms. We stayed here for two wonderful days, and first night was so clear and unmarred by artificial light that I could see my shadow, from the starlight alone - I have never seen that before. As you can see below, guests at Okopuko can purchase all sorts of foodstuffs from the owners - eggs from the chickens that spent their days relaxing under the deck; lovely veggies; home made bread; and milk from the cows, Heidi and Orca. Oh and Sister - this one's for you.

Cat: "I wouldn't be seen dead in that hat." Me: "Don't you have a hairball to cough up or something?"

We felt sure that these lovely hills, across the valley, could be inhabited by hobbits.

Anna, my guide, fiddling with the tack.

I went for a lovely trek up in to the mountains in Okopuko. There is simply no better way of seeing things than from a horse's back, and the views from the mountain top were just astounding - you're going to have to take my word for it, as they don't come out particularly well in this picture. The horses were amazingly adept at finding their way across streams and through knee-deep mud and waist-high, prickly gorse - I wanted to put mine in my pocket and take him home. His name was Sandman, and you can see him on the left in the picture.

We would gladly have spent weeks and weeks in this gorgeous place, but it was time to go back to Auckland for the last time and pick up more folk. We knew that Bob was chomping at the bit to go skiing in the South Island, and the last member of the party, Chris, had finally flown into town and was staying with Yugoslavian Steve. Time to head south.