Dry but overcast - today we walked the path out of Wanaka towards Albert Town; it went along the edge of the lake and then along the bank of the Clutha river. We decided to walk for two hours, have our sandwiches, and then return thus making it a good 4 hour walk. The cloud made it very atmospheric as it changed shape but shrouded the mountain tops and kept them hidden from view. Our two hours were up approximately 1km from Albert Town so we had made good progres...

Christmas Day dawned overcast and drizzly - the weather forecast said it should brighten with the chances of showers disappearing by 2pm ish so we decided to walk the Diamond Lake and Rocky Summit track after lunch. I went off to the gym while John watched the film Mama Mia, rather than the religious service, on television! After lunch we headed the half an hour up the road towards Mount Aspiring National Park and parked at the head of the Diamond Lake trail. A...

The weather dawned overcast and drizzly so we decided today was a relaxing day in the resort, amongst other things, we sorted out what we were going to take to Stewart island and what we were going to leave in the car - we are flying and only have a 15kg limit. I started the day with a session in the gym before breakfast and booked a massage for 2pm - the latter was so good that I went to sleep! Refreshed from my massage we decided to drive down the hill into Wa...

Up and off to the gym as hopefully it will be my last experience exercising with a large plaster club on my hand. At 1040 we left the apartment to go to the health centre; we left prepared for a day out, hopefully shopping and a walk along the shore path to one of the bays would follow my appointment. Almost on the dot of 1100 ( my appointment time) I was collected by the nurse who took me to a small A& E type area where she snipped my plaster off. What a r...

We awoke to sunshine and blue skies which bode well for the rest of the day. After breakfast our plan was to go to Albert Town and walk the Newcastle track along the Clutha River - an undulating 12km one way track - so by the time we finished we had completed 24kms or 15 miles. The scenery was beautiful - a backdrop of snow capped mountains against a blue sky, trees in full leaf and the clear glacial blue of the flowing river. We passed farmland with a large her...