A Final Top Ten

Whenever we found ourselves enjoying something during the holiday we'd ask each other "Sure, but is it a top ten?" Ultimately we had about two dozen in our top ten, but here's our final list, all in a scientifically calculated order of preference:

	1. Our First Day in Akaroa (Day 37) - after three weeks in cold, urban Japan we landed at Christchurch and drove two hours through spectacular and sunny countryside to Akaroa, the most picturesque place on earth. We topped it off with the best meal of the holiday, in the most beautiful location.

	2. The Primeval Forest of Yakushima (Day 31) - we didn't allow nearly enough time to get to Yakushima Island and look around it, but we loved hiking through its dark and otherwordly forests of twisted trees during the three hours we scraped together. We'll be back.

	3. The Tokyo Morning Fish Market (Day 16) - I wouldn't have predicted a fish market would make the top ten, but the vast range of seafood was visually stunning and watching the market come to life as the sun rose was a great introduction to Japan. Plus: fresh sushi breakfast.

	4. Mount Doom and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Day 53) - not only was this walk a bit more of a challenge than most of our other treks, it also took us through landscapes we'd never seen before. The absolute highlight was the glorious Red Crater and its rumbling sister, Mount Doom.

	5. A Helihike Up The Fox Glacier (Day 47) - our first helicopter ride was exciting enough, but then we got to clamber around a completely alien landscape, exploring ice hole and other beautiful formations which had never been seen before, and wouldn't be there tomorrow.

	6. Wine Tasting In Marlborough (Day 50) - what could beat a lovely sunny day cycling in the countryside? Tasting ten superb wines, perhaps, and meeting with some of the friendliest wine makers in the world. A slow, relaxing and incredibly pleasant day.

	7. The Temple of Ta Prohm (Day 68) - this jungle-infested temple was visually stunning and a great place to spend an afternoon clambering across rubble, exploring dark corridors and imagining the thrill of discovering our own, long-lost temple in the jungle.

	8. The Penguins of Oamaru (Day 39) - we'd been told we might not see any yellow eyed penguins in Oamaru as they're totally wild, and so our expectations were set low. When a family of penguins waddled up the clifftop to stand a couple of feet away we felt like David Attenborough on a good day.

	9. Frolicking On Ocean Beach (Day 59) - we somehow didn't get round to swimming in the sea until we reached Ocean Beach in week four of New Zealand, and we'd initially only stopped the car to have a look. The beach was soft and sandy, the waves were huge and warm, and we laughed throughout.

10. Carrie Fisher at Studio 54 (Day 5) - we came across Studio 54 completely by accident, booked on an impulse and had one of the best afternoons of laughter on the holiday. A very New York diversion on a cold, Christmassy afternoon in December.

So now you know! Thanks for reading.

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