Set off from Franz Josef about 08.30 - and made our first stop within 5 mins at Lake Mapourika. Just another lake surrounded by trees! Moved on to Okaritio and wandered along the beach - some interesting rocks jutting out of the Tasman Sea. Didn't even take a pic at our next stop,Lake Ianthe.......just another lake (Francis said I was getting blase). Lake Mahinapua was more interesting (originally a coastal lagoon but now cut off from the sea) and we saw a weka (I was getting excited 'cos the weka looks a bit like a kiwi.......).Stopped off for brunch in Hokitika - quaint little place,made rich in the past from goldmining. Then on to Lake Kaniere - Rae reckons that's where the print we have in a bedroom at home was taken..........could well have been: a ... read more

Had a good run up to Franz Josef via Lake Wanaka. Left sharpish and were at Lake Wanaka (via Kawarau Gorge) before 10. Lovely day - again! Bumped into a couple from Gouraock that we'd met in Dunedin - they gave us a recommendation for breakfast. Fabulous views over the lake. Stopped off at Lake Hawea (impressive),Thunder Creek Falls (less impressive 'cos of lack of rain),Roaring Billy (ditto the comment for Thunder Creek) before popping into Haast for a toilet break - where Rae bought a Merino gilet............no,not in the toilet! Had lunch at Knights Point overlooking the ocean - wonderful blue water! Went to Lake Mathieson near Fox Glacier but, disppointingly,the mirror effect was spoiled by the wind rippling the water.Still............ Accommodation very good again - a very well-equipped self-catering chalet. Off to the Franz ... read more

Made it to Queenstown about 4'ish. Decided to do the drive up to Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Maori) - well worth it. Stunning,spectacular,awesome views!!! Left early (just after 8!) to avoid the bus trips and didn't stop too often on way up - once at The Chasm which was amazing - the water coming down off the mountain has over time carved its way through huge rocks resulting in unbelievable formations. Rae thought one of them looked like Munsch's "Scream"........Went straight into Homer Tunnel - pretty claustrophobic. Got to Milford in about 2 hours,took a few pics and headed back to Te Anau,stopping off at a few more viewing points. Mirror Lakes was particularly good. Went into a bird sanctuary at Te Anau and saw a few specimens including the endangered Tekapo. The drive up to ... read more

Took a couple of pics of Dunedin before leaving this morning. Had a good run to Te Anau,stopping off at Gore for breakfast and at a scenic reserve just outside of Gore called Dolamore Park where we did an hour's bush walk to a viewpoint 300 or so metres up. Bit boring actually after some of the other panoramas we've had EXCEPT for being accosted by a couple of fantails (little birds,a bit like sparrows but with an amazing fan tail - must be the same length as the body). They fluttered around us on the path coming within 2 or 3 feet. I could become a twitcher! Then on to our digs in Te Anau...............an old convent that had been moved (literally) from its location 60 or so miles away. Looks fantastic - Trailfinders have ... read more

Left Mt Cook and stopped off in a few places en route to Dunedin (the so-called Edinburgh of the south): Twisel,Elephant Rocks,(Hampden - just for the toilet and the name),Moeraki Boulders. Weather still excellent. The stop at the Elephant Rocks was a deviation from the planned route: it sounded interesting and was! They are large weathered limestone rocks shaped like........you've guessed it,elephants (if you use a little bit of imagination). Then on to the Moeraki Boulders. One of Rae's friends,Leigh,had told us about these: very strange looking rocks formed by "septarian concretion" - thought that you'd want to know that! Comes about from erosion! We had lunch on the beach while studying them! And on down to Dunedin with Scottish Shop,Robert Burns Bar - we even walked down Princes St. Off on a wildlife drive/cruise round ... read more