From the warm and sunny Abel Tasman we travelled south down the beautiful scenic west coast to the cool and wet Southern Alps of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. In the sunshine the snow clad mountains are picturesque, but as we discovered, sunshine is a rare thing here!

Then inland to very hot and sunny Wanaka, a small town on the very lovely Lake Wanaka which each year hosts the world's most scenic triathlon. And it was taking place the weekend we were there! No wonder it was so difficult to find a place to stay! A carnival atmosphere reigned in town and the competitors sweltered in the heat, so did the onlookers!

A few kms down the road is Mount Aspiring National Park where a drive down an unpaved road, crossing several hair-raising fords, and with hitch-hiker in the car, led us to a walk with a marvellous view point over Rob Roy glacier and waterfalls.

Today we drove to Arrowtown and whilst sitting eating our lunch along came churchwarden Jane from home - what an amazing coincidence! We spent a good hour together chatting and catching up with news from home!