Te Anau Lodge

... white" - one of the great varieties of coffee served at the Five Rivers cafe. We will have a hard time adjusting to regular coffee when we get home. At eleven, we went through Te Anau, a great little town on a huge lake, and then on to Manapouri to the Real Journeys office. Fortunately the rain stopped and we enjoyed a picnic lunch. The journey to Doubtful Sound then required an hour cruise across the island-studded Lake Manapouri and an hour bus trip over Wilmot ...

... town was really busy as there were Winter Games on which had attracted a lot of participants and spectators as well as the normal seasonal ski/snowboard crowd - I must admit to feeling a bit old. After dinner the EK girls came round Chez Moi for a few drinks and a good blether and airing of opinions on the creative marketing by the NZ tourist bods. After they left I was a bit wired so headed back into town for a look round and to phone - as for once I was awake after midnight so ...

... Bottle-nose dolphins who first appeared jumping almost into some of us on the front deck! The dolphins here are the most southerly known in the world and grow much larger than other Bottle-nose dolphins to keep warm. I found red wine helped me keep warm. We also saw a fur seal fishing and, due to the calm conditions, made it out into the Tasman Sea for the “classic’ view back a t the fjord and the chance to spot some ...

... I can see how it would be ideal while tramping. This is what I'll really be living off of for the next few days. I go back to the hostel to get everything together, and I'm off. Just like that. It's a strange feeling, walk down the high street of Te Anau and right onto the Track. I'm looking back often, and a lot of thoughts are going through my head. Although I've been planning and looking forward to this for a long time, I can't help but feel a bit of anxiety over the whole thing. I've ...

... up to Harris Saddle, passing by Lake Harris, rugged peaks, and impressive warerfalls. After lunching at the pass, Becca, Micah and I made the steep trek up Conical Hill where we found the predicted 100 km/hr winds, but also had incredible views of the Fiordlands side of the park. From there we descended to Mckenzie Hut, passing through the Fairy Glen forest, which was literally carpeted in brilliant green moss. Every surface was ...

... and we stop in Queenstown on the way and I accidently bump into JO who I hadn't seen since Wellington! What a lovely sruprise that was!! we have a quick chat before i head back on the bus and get to Te Anau.... And after a great shower I meet Michelle!! I met Michelle in the UK a few years ago and she now lives near Invercargill and very kindly offered for me to stay round her house and even came to pick me up in Te Anau!!! It's great to see her again!! :o))

Hello from Doubtful Sound on the South Island of New Zealand! We are anchored on a metal fishing boat in a sheltered cove while it pours with rain (something it seems to do a lot in New Zealand - this area gets 500-600 meters a year!) After a long day of flying yesterday we finally made it to Queenstown. Halfway to New Zealand, our 727 had to turn around because there was a huge crack in the pilot's windscreen. We got on another plane and flew in just before sunset. My mom ...

... the kayaks to form a raft, raised a sail between us, and sped along the cresting whitecaps toward our destination. For the remainder of our kayak expedition, we paddled, drifted and swapped tales as we progressed to Deep Cove for the return journey back to Manapouri. Exhausted from our exertions, we had a BBQ (sirloin and pork ribs) before hitting the sack. Zzzz...

... fact that you don't have to tip!

We're also enjoying NZ TV - there are three channels which show an eclectic mix of UK, US and Aussie soaps, detective dramas etc, plus quite a few movies. We love the adverts; there are some endearingly amateurish ones on the radio and the TV has ads for farmers; we particularly enjoy the one for a worming treatment for sheep which features a cartoon woolly creature saying 'this will kill the baa-stards!'.

I'm ...