Franz Josef to Queenstown and Milford Sound 4th - 8th February

Making our way to Queenstown we were meals for yet more sandfly. But we did manage to stop and clamber over the rope bridge to see the stunning blue pools right in the middle of western NZ's temperate rainforest.Queenstown was the first substantial civilisation we had seen for a few days and we were thankful for it, we topped up on supplies and planned the next day's activities: River surfing on the Kawaru river (the river used in one of the final scenes of Lord of The Rings No.1). This was really hard work but great fun. Our instructors ended the day by making us face our fears and jump off of a 5m high ledge into the rapids below!

On the 6th of February, before heading to Milford Sound, we went over to the original NZ bungee site and contemplated a bungee; currently we haven't got much further than contemplating!

Just when we thought we had seen the best scenery of our lives Milford Sound came along and stunned us again (a feeling we are starting to get used to). We drove to the sound at dusk and consequently had the entire 200km stretch of road to ourselves, the mountains looked pretty ominous shrouded in cloud and silhouetted against the sunset. When we arrived the torrential rainfall reminded us a little too much of home but at least it had cleared up by morning when we did our cruise of the sound. The pictures say it all; the cruise was just as picturesque as the journey to the sound had been and we were able to get up close to seals rolling around in the sea and basking on rocks!

After our cruise we drove back down the same road we had came on, taking time to appreciate it in the light this time. We stopped at a lake town called Te Anau to take in yet more scenery and rest for the night. We have come further south now and we are writing from the biggest town we have stopped at for a while (Invercargil), we are here solely to sort out internet stuff before heading out to the remote Catlins, where we have a beach room booked at a place called Curio Bay, hoping to see sea lions and penguins here! Pictures will be up soon. Hope everyone at home is dealing with the snow ok! Look forward to hearing from you.

Love Alex and Sophiexxx