Early start this morning for the 5hrs+ journey from Christchurch to Dunedin which departs at 07:45. I’ve downloaded the audiobook version of Trevor Bentley’s ‘Pakeha Maori – The Extraordinary Story of Europeans who lived their lives as Maoris’ to help pass the time away. The fare is a bargain $22 and the journey offers great views across the Canterbury plains to snow capped mountains and later out to sea.  

As if Christchurch was not cold enough I’ve decided to spend the afternoon in a fridge watching ice hockey and, on arrival in Dunedin, I head across town to the Ice Stadium in St Kilda where Dunedin Thunder take on the Auckland Admirals. This is my first live ice hockey game which proves to spectacularly fast and, unlike rugby, has very few stoppages. The Thunder lose, lets hope that’s an omen for Tuesday!