We travelled across the Southern Alps via the stunningly scenic Arthur's Pass to Franz Josef, in the rainforest. Three main roads provide access to passes to the mountains. One is Lewis Pass at the northernmost part; southernmost is Burke's Pass and central is Arthur's Pass, which marks the eastern portal of the Otira Tunnel, the only rail link through the mountains. It is an 8 km long tunnel completed in 1923. It took 15 years to construct and is a vital rail link between the west coast and Canterbury. We stopped about midway through Arthur's Pass to take in the scenery and stretch our legs. Arthur's Pass is named after Arthur Dudley Dobson who rediscovered this former Maori route in 1864.

It was a long bus ride but it was livened up by Tony playing tunes from my iPhone. He played everything from Billy Joel and Whitney Houston to Janis Joplin, Queen and Led Zeppelin. I was surprised that the "older" people (ironic that I'm calling other people that are roughly my age older people!) loved all the classic rock tunes.

The Southern Alps are spectacular cloud-piercing peaks. I know I must be sounding repetitive but I can't put into words the amazing breathtaking views we have seen while here. My pictures do not do them justice. In parts of the range they get 15 metres of snow annually which gives rise to about 140 glaciers. The Franz Josef Glacier (named after the Austrian emperor in 1865 by European explorer Julius Haast) is found in the lower forest just 300 metres above sea level. The early Maori called Franz Josef 'Ka Roimata o HInehukatere' (Tears of the Avalanche Girl). Legend says a girl, Hinehukatere, was an avid mountaineer and persuades her more cautious lover, Wawe, to join her climbing the mountains. Disaster struck and Wawe was swept to his death by an avalanche. Heartbroken, Hinehukatere wept and the gods froze her tears and formed the glacier as a reminder of her grief.

When we finally reached our hostel it was almost dinner time. The hostel is quite nice. It's more like what we would call a self contained motel but it is quite nice just the same. The quality of the places we are staying in has certainly improved since Wellington. The only problem was that their wifi was down due to the weather so everyone was a bit bummed out about that.

We had a nice group dinner and then it was off to bed. It's tough getting this group to do anything. I'm hoping to get them out dancing in Queenstown. Vic has contracted a bad cold and he needs his sleep so we went back to the too. I couldn't go to sleep at 9:00 pm so I enjoyed a glass of wine while enjoying again in my mind all the brilliant scenery I saw today, all the while listening to the sniffles and snores next to me.