We actually get an extra hour in bed this morning as New Zealand have daylight saving and the clocks have gone back an hour, however in huts this doesn’t really happen as you live by the sunset and sunrise. I am up to watch the last of the beautiful sunrise, which really is stunning. By 8.30am we are out and heading down the mountain. Today’s track follows the river down the mountain then out to the lake along the valley. The first few hours are rather tricky for footing, as many of the rocks and vegetation we cross around the water flowing down the mountain side are covered in a thin layer of ice. We all make it down without any issues however, and admire many the waterfalls before disappearing into the forest for the second ... read more

After a lovely nights sleep I go out for a run this morning, along the seafront, back to Thunanui beach. I sit on the beach for a while and enjoy watching the early morning haze over the sea, with the mountains peaking above the haze in the background. I have a nice chilled day for once, making the most of wearing normal clothes and not walking attire. After doing some laundry and sorting my kayaking trip in Abel Tasman for a few days time, I enjoy fully exploring Nelson in the sunshine. The most notable points include the bead museum, filled with thousands of jars of beads - I was tempted to try and make something in there, but my creativity failed me, and my need for the toilet won, so I headed out to find ... read more

It’s another early start this morning as at 6am I am at the Ocean Encounter centre and getting kitted out in a full wetsuit, wetsuit jacket, hood, snorkel and flippers. After a short safety briefing video around 15 of us pile onto a boat and speed out into the Pacific Ocean. Whilst we are out on the water, the sky goes from black to a magical redy-orange, as the sunrises over the surrounding mountains. It is whilst we are all memorised by the sky the first dolphins are spotted, and then the whole pod of around 200 start to appear. Over the next 2 hours we take three swims with the dolphins, and each time I swim I have more and more dolphins around me. It is just amazing, I had around 15 dolphins swimming around ... read more

The storm continues through the night and I am awoken at several points by thunder. It is still raining heavily when I get up to skype the Baker family, at their Easter Sunday gathering – lovely to talk to you all, and a little envious I can’t indulge in a slice of your chocolate cake Catherine! However, after breakfast the rain stops, and the sun begins to shine. For a change I decide to run one of the tracks, so I run the Arthurs Pass walking track to access the start of the Bealley River Valley track, along the river – a nice fairly flat route, only having to walk a few times to climb up, after this I then run the short distance to the start of the Temple Basin Ski field track (the walk ... read more

After a lovely full and undisturbed nights sleep I am refreshed (apart from my legs, which ache from my run), tuck into some breakfast and get ready to head off. Just as I am leaving, Danny asks if he could accompany me, which of course I welcome. Far more enjoyable to walk with someone. So by 9am we have signed in at the DOC, checked the weather forecast and track conditions and head off. It’s a steep climb from the outset, and even without the sunshine and a light breeze present we are both sweating before long, clambering over the rocks and over the hillside. Danny sets a perfect pace thanks to his previous army career and we are soon at the tree line. From the tree line, there are several points where you think you ... read more