New Zealand - Queenstown to Te Anau

OK - so onwards and upwards....literally! The title to this one is a little misleading as it was basically a journey into one of the most scenically amazing places In New Zealand - the wonder that is Milford Sound (look this one up on google for some piccies and you'll see what I mean).

The journey there dosen't disappoint either - one of the most scenically amazing drives in the world. It involves travelling around Lake Wakatipu, passing staggering waterfalls, and a magnificent descent from the Homer Tunnel 3,000 feet to Milford Sound at sea level.

Milford Sound is also home to one of the world's top walks (takes 4 days and involves a bit of roughing it....you have to camp and you also have to carry all your gear with you so its pretty tough going but apparently well worth the effort - again something on my go back and do list).

I took the easy option and did a 2 hour boat trip instead and although no effort was required it was also well worth it!

Here's what some others have said about it (slightly more eloquent that perhaps I can manage at this hour on a Monday morning......):

“For thousands of feet upwards the eye looks upon straight cut rocky frontages, not worn smooth by time, or by wind or water, but as sharply defined and as fresh looking in all respects as if riven asunder but yesterday by the stupendous wedges of Titanic Masons.“ James Hingston 1883

The Maori were the first to attribute the creation of the fiords to a “titanic mason”, Tute Rakiwhanoa who hued out the steep sided valleys with keen edged adzes. No other explanation seems to fit, as it is impossible to comprehend the sheer breadth of geological events that created this seemingly perfect sculpture, as sheer cliffs rise vertically upward from the ocean.

Wet or fine Milford is incredibly grand. Mitre Peak magnetises photographers, and the fiord’s sheer cliffs excite both admiration and apprehension.

So there you go - think that about covers it! The only way to truly understand is of course to go and see it for yourselves and I wholeheartedly recommend that you do.

A few hours later it was time to beat a reluctant retreat and move on to Ta Anau where we would stay for the night and here a treat awaited us! We all had our own rooms - SHOCK, HORROR, GASP! First time that had happened in a long long time and boy was it good - no trying to sleep with the sweet aroma of other peoples smelly shoes, being woken up at regular intervals in the middle of the night with drunken idiots falling over themselves trying not to make any noise (it never works - trust me I'm an expert....), trying to lull yourself to sleep with the sweet sound of soft snoring - I think you get the basic idea here! So pretty much an early night for all to go and spend some 'me' time with ourselves and very pleasant it was too (as well as much needed).

Te Anau itself is a pretty little spot situated on the edge of Lake Te Anau - not much there to be honest but its a gateway to one of the most spectacular places in New Zealand so that's pretty good in my book.