Te Anau part 1 And so we arrive in Te Anau direct from our night of luxury in Doubtful Sound, and check in at our campsite! After settling in (!) we head into town for the much hyped film Ata Whenua, aka Shadowlands. For a film that has recieved no advertising or marketing it is all anyone talks about around the fjordland area, and for good reason. The film has been made by a local helicopter guide who decided that it was about time that everyone got to see what he did everyday. He strapped a camera to the front of his helicopter and with a film maker friend spent the next 2 years filming the amazing sights of the National park. Once completed he realised that there was nowhere to screen it in Te Anau, and refused for it to be taken elsewhere - so built one especially for it! The results are spectacular - the film is breathtaking and the cinema luxurious too. We instantly snapped a copy of the film up on DVD and continue to pass the word along to fellow backpackers. Apart from our visits into Milford Sound we pretty much chilled out in Te Anau, wandering around the town and beautiful lake. I even found some fellow footie fans to watch the Champions League Final with - albeit at 6am!!!! And so we pack up the van and hit the road in search of snow filled Queenstown........... or so we thought! About 40km out of Te Anau the van decides it's not actually ready to leave and stops, quite literally! Oh dear. As in vast sections of the South Island we are in a 'no signal' phone area. Oh dear oh dear. With the van refusing to budge, Richard heads off in search of a signal while I guard the van ;o) Luckily for us someone - Fred - stopped and picked him up - as it turns out he was more intrigued at the sight of someone walking when the nearest town was a 20min drive away! Unfortunately the good ol' kiwi ingenuity was not enough to get the van going this time, so while it was towed away, we took up our good samaritan's offer of a bed for the night (we had just lost ours after all!) and headed back to Te Anau. Te Anau part 2. It turned out to be just as much of a surprise to Fred's family as us, when we traipsed in with our rucksacks! Luckily Fred put everyone at ease with the statement "I know you probably feel awkward, but that's not my problem", before disappearing upstairs!!! It turned out to be 2 weeks before the van was ready to leave, and amazingly the Rogers family welcomed us in for the first half, making us feel well and truly at home. And what a home it was - a 5 bed custom built house atop a hill, surrounded by 10 acres of land and 360 degree views of the mountains! We had the additional company of 7 sheep, 5 cows, 3 alpacas and 2.5 dogs (one only stayed at weekends!) Although a costly and time consuming interference, we had a great time and will forever be grateful for the kindheartedness of Fred, Jackie, Amy and Chelsea. Thank you all once again. And so this time we really are off, Queenstown you better be ready!