Nice sunny but windy drive as C&Mheaded south on Saturday alongside Lake Wakatipu, past Kingston where the Kingston Flyer, a turn of the century steam train,still chugs along to Fairlight, The countryside towards Athol and Five Rivers was reminiscent of parts of Scotland, which is probably what drew an eccentric Scotsman to this part of the world to set up a specialist fly fishing shop, Stu's Orgasmic World Famous Fly shop.As we drew nearer to fjordland there were a few clouds hanging over the mountains but essentially a nice afternoon as we reached Te Anau. There was time for a spot of fishing on the Upper Waiau river and to hook a decent brown trout whilst beating off the clouds of sandflies (despite the citronella repellent!). Although the forecast was poor for the whole week, Sunday was sunny as the Top 10 coach set off early for Milford Sound, stopping at Mirror Lakes, k*** Flat and Eglinton valley for spectacular views. While we waited at the Homer Tunnel (1.2km unlined sloping tunnel through granite) the keas took advantage of the stationary vehicles and food opportunities. Through the Chasm, and we were at Milford where the cruise ships were waiting, and behind them MitrePeak, one of the world's highest mountains to rise out of the sea and the most famous view of the Sound. BBQ lunch was available as we moved off to cruise as far as St Anne Point by the entrance to the Sound from the Tasman Sea, pulling in close to the waterfalls, fur seals and the rare Fjordland Crested Penguin. The boats that cruise the Sound are quite large but are dwarfed by the mountains that rise out of the water and the superlatives that are heaped on this part of New Zealand are well justified. We stopped at the underwater observatory which is a scientific and educational facility to study the unique environment inside the fjords which allows communities of deep sea animals to thrive just a few metres below the surface of Milford Sound . There was time for another visit to the Waiau and walk on the Kepler track on Monday before the predicted rain did arrive, and was still there on Tuesday as we set off to Wanaka.