16th Jan-1st Feb Queenstown. The adrenaline capital of NZ if you have a bank balance to suit mmhh!! had to stay in control of this one. We did the Skyway Gondola Ride which take you above the city for some fab views of the Lake & city. whilst we were there we just had to have a go on THE LUGE these are like go Karts with very little steering and braking, you really just pick up your feet and whoosh down the luge trying not to crash, brill buzz had to do it again. (see photo) Te Anua Here we stopped off in a hedgerow for couple of nights. I think the locals call it free camping. We were waiting to go of diving in Milford Sounds. (See photo's) (for the divers amongst us I will send Cara a separate em.) then went off to explore the sounds, after really not seeing or tramping the Marlborough Sounds because of heavy rain we were really looking forward to some serious tramping. Guess what yep it rained for 3 days couldnt see a mountain top!!! still managed some walks but missed out on the beauty of the area. 4th Day our diving day was gorgeous and Dave our Guide & skipper for the day showed us stuff as we travelled we would never have found on our own. The diving is special here due to fresh water coming off the mountains, causes a layer on top of the sea water that confuses all the marine life. So well worth hanging around for the weather to improve. Now we want some SUN and start heading East. Manapouri our first stop, weather improving slightly go off for some Flora and Fauna walks. (thats what they say!!) first of all we had to get over to the middle island by ferryman (see photo.) Options were to row ourselves or Kyak, we chose the easy route (see photo's) nice little 5hr tramp. Dunedin Now!! We stayed here for 4 days and had the most amazing time it was one on the list if we were running out of time we would not bother with, oh what a mistake that would have been. Went on organised trip to see Royal Albatros colony only land based colony in NZ. We were lucky enough to see 3 nesting and 2/3 soaring around the cliff face. Yellow eyed Penguins also endangered only managed to see 1 adult and chick and they were far enough away you had to use your bino's but still worth seeing these very rare birds and the breeding programme the conservation agencies are planning. both of these areas are protected against us (human interference) and vermin controlled. Lastly on our twitchers programme we went off to visit the blue penguins now these are so different, still control by the consrevation group but they came out of the sea, in rafts( that what they are called) they all bunch together about 50mtrs out and then swim on the surface as fast as poss then jump out onto the beach the noise was quite surprising obvisously done to protect them from preditors.. Now it takes them and Hr to cross the road and meet up with their hungry young!! Twitchers exhausted!!! we are now on an train that runs through Tairei Gorge (see photos) This was built in 1879 it is 19km long,has tunnels running throughout the track longest one being 437mtrs long, we travelled over wobbly via duct that look like they should have been condemd years ago, We met up with 2 nice people Lorraine, Simon, who invited us back to their's for a BBQ (many thanks)very socialable evening and many a beer was drunk. Last day in Dunedin we all went off to a A&P show which is like our country days, I got introduced to the president because she remembered me asking her what A&P stood for when she was in the city a few days earlier. Mt Cook back to the lakes and mountains which we have probably enjoyed more than the beaches. We stop off (free camping at lake Benmore this is support by a massive dam. great for that early morning swim that I have to do. ( guess which one of us that is??) on towards Mt Cook this is the highest mt on the S.I. we keep stopping for photo's along the way just so impressive. This time we stayed in a D.O.C campsite the weather is so hot its 18:oohrs and NO respite from the days sun but we were only complaining yesterday the weather was so cold, we trundle off for our first tramp of the area over 2 swing bridges, dried up river beds and some beautiful rapids all to see Lake Hooker which has iceberg's floating on it this is due to the terminal face of Hooker Glacier melting and breaking off what a terrible shame it is shrinking at some awful rate.. but amazing to see all this ice rolling and turning over as it melts in the sun.. 2nd tramp takes us up i think it says steep rock face. again another small but very deep lake at the top Sealy trans track. I am stripped off and in,to my surprise Mark joins me, (well he must have been hot) an American couple come over the top of the ridge and are jumping in with all of their clothes on (mmh wet walk after eh!!). On our descent we find a couple we passed on our way up (they were going down then, so 3hrs later they have only travelled a few mtrs. the lady is in tears the man is refusing to go any further anyway mark takes their Rucksack and we start to coach them down step by step amazing the amount of other people must have passed them on their way and not helped them. eventually we get them down all safe. but amazes me sometimes how people can take these tramps so lightly. some of them are killers!!. ANYWAY of the soap box!!! We are now travelling back East towards Christchurch. we have 2 night stops @ Lake Tekapo and Gerladine but didn't stay and didnt even swim. Christchurch- We are now here for 2weeks to hopefully sell our LUV BUS ahh!! She has been so good to us!! Watch this space. Australia Here we Come!!!