Holiday Part 3

Greetings all,

Things continue to be lots of fun here in NZ - last night saw some serious storms in this part of the world, so it's perfect hot chocolate weather.

Day 7:
When we'd plotted out our trip, we'd originally planned to go from Dunedin to Queenstown, then to Te Anau and Milford sound. Our B&B dude suggested that instead of this, we go straight to Te Anau which was pretty good advice, so here we are. After a few last minute stops in Dunedin, the trip to Te Anau near the west coast was stunningly beautiful. We got here with heaps of time to spare, so booked into a motel and had a wander. It's a tourist town, no doubt about it. We had to hire some snow chains for the Milford Road, and we were a bit worried there would still be avalanches as a result of the earthquakes and snow melt, but the latest road reports were clear.
Dinner was at the local pub, Sunday lamb roast (yummy).

Day 8:
We set out VERY early to Milford Sound. The Lonely Planet had suggested an early start to avoid the tour buses, which turned out to be really good advice. It was the first not-raining not-foggy day in a month! The road was really beautiful, and we didn't have to stop and put the snow chains on or stop for any avalanches, thank goodness.
Milford is so beautiful, I don't really know how to describe it. You'll all just have to come here one day. We hopped on a tour of the sound (which is really a fjord. Good thing - I was pining for a good fjord!) which was really, REALLY cool. It took about 3 hours, but it seemed to go by in about 10 minutes. The mountains rise up straight out of the sea, and you can watch the waterfalls coming down next to the boat and trace them all the way back up to the snow-tipped caps.
The only time I spent away from the top deck of the boat was when we had to do a U-turn in the Tasman sea - up until that point the gentle boat rocking had been quite soothing. 5 minutes and a cup of tea later and I was yet again front-and-centre watching the action. I DID miss the bottle-nosed dolphin that was tracking the boat/ship/vessel, bummer. However, we saw more of the fur seals in the sound, as well as some Fiordland Crested Penguins - so cute!
We drove more slowly back into town, stopping (it seemed like) every 30 metres to take more photos. (Slide night date to be advised!) Then followed a quiet evening!

Day 9:
Today we're heading to a cruise to the Manapuri underground power station, and then on to Queenstown.

Things I Haven't Talked About Yet:
* Ottago Settlers Museum in Dunedin is really cool, free to enter, and quite impressive for a regional museum. Gives a great history of the area without being too boring, annoying, patronising. Lots of old cars on display, as well as the first Dunedin steam train Josephine (Himself was in geek heaven).
* Every single petrol station we've been to in New Zealand has had driveway service. I love it! They come out, fill your car, wash the windscreen, check the oil & water, it's great! Bring it back in Oz, I say.
* I haven't been to any wool shops yet, but we've done heaps of train things. This balance is soon to shift, I assure you.
* My darling sister, you REALLY NEED TO CALL MY HOUSE-SITTER. Honest.

I haven't heard anything about my interview yet, so fingers crossed...

She Says.