Hi There,

Well we are virtually racing our way through the South Island and before you know it we will be on the ferry to North Island.

Sunday 24th Feb

Queenstown was a 5hr drive so Charlotte and I shared the time. When we reached Queestown we checked into our little Butterfly Lodge. We had the best view of the Mountains and lake from our window. Really nice to wake up to in the morning.

We wondered around Queenstown, which is really nice and not what I expected (Meant to be backpacker drunks everywhere but not on our stay), We took a walk through the botanic gardens before heading for a cheeky little Indian takeaway.

Small world we always say when we meet someone and it really is. We met a girl who worked at the lodge, she was from Penicuik but has since moved with her family to Prestonpans, her dad I think by his age was in my mothers year at Pinkie St Peters Primary and again at Musselburgh Grammar. She was also cousin's to a guy who played in my local Musselburgh football team. SMALL WORLD!!!!

MONDAY 25th FEB

We got up a little later due to all the camping over the last few days, We decided not to do any of the bungy's or skydives in Queenstown as the prices are too much, However we did go up in the Gondala for some fantastic views of the town and then we decided to go on the luge (a little go Kart going down the mountain). The Luge track is only 1 of 4 in the world, we had so much fun!!!

We went down two tracks, the first a scenic route and the second a more faster and pacer with loops, bends, dips and tunnells. Cool very cool was in my element.

In the afternoon we decided to head to Glenorchy which is 40k outside Queenstown. The pictures you will see are some of the Mountain ranges used in Lord of the Rings. We know this as we didn't want to pay for the trip as it was too much but when we stopped at a view point the safari 4 wheel drive guide was talking to her group so we rolled down the window and listeined in!!! Free how good was that!

The girl at our lodge also found out the Hugh Jackman is in town as the next X men is being filmed here too.

The beach at Queenstown in Stone but really nice as the lake is so pretty, An icecream shop was to hand so we got an icecream and sat on the wall looking over the lake.

TUESDAY 26th FEB

Queenstown to Wanaka was only a 2 hr drive. We decided to take the scenic Mountain route via a small town called Arrowtown. This was some drive our little car was struggling and i thought I was going to have to get out and push. Never the less our little Car (Bertie we have named it) made it!!!

Arrowtown was a little mining village, all the old chinese mining homes were still there so we had a wonder round. Later on Charlotte bought some freshly picked rasperries from a local man's house (You just put your money in an honest box and take a bunch), they turned out nice for dessert.

We reached Wanaka where we had lunch by the lake and I threw some stones to try and skim them across the lake.

On the way home I spotted a little hedgehog on one side of the road trying to get across, he (as I named him Henry and as a proffesional vet I made the conclusion he was male!! Hee hee!!). Well Henry had some near misses by the time I turned the car round to save him. I ran across the road picked him of the mad bad motorway that it would have looked to his little eyes and took him across to the grass where he wanted to go. Good deed for the day, the little thing wrapped his paws around my fingers!!!

After a dramatic experience on the way home, we cooked dinner and chatted to some German campers before heading to bed.

Wednesday 27th FEB

In our Lonely Planet guide (The bible of travelling), there was a trek mentioned called the rob roy which takes you to some amazing scenery. This was a 3-4 hr trek so crazy us decided to go for it.

After driving 20k we found the road ended and a gravel/mud road existed, we were not meant to go onto this I think and it lasted for 30k. We got half way and 100's of sheep were in our way on the road coming towards us, the farmer was transporting them for shearing we think. We had to wait around a bit buuuut it was fun, hope you got that one!!!!

We had to cross little rivers and fords, I had to get out the car and test how deep before we crossed. Eventually we made the car park we hoped that the hike was good due to the dangers we just incurred to little Bertie!!!

We climbed over a swinging bridge, rivers, through apline rainforests with the rapids along side us. The hike was steep and it took us 1hr 30min, but at the top you could see Mt Aspiring (the second highest Mountain in NZ). This is a Glacier so the ice on top was amazing to see and all the waterfalls coming from it. The trek made us hungry so we had lunch at the top before decending back to the car. Great day out!!!

On Thursday we travel to Franz Joseph (6hr drive) and then Friday climb the Glacier itself on a guided tour. We will let you know how we get on soon.

Until then enjoy the photo's and we will speak soon.

Iain and Charlotte

(New Zealand's new junior Glacier climbers!!!)