South Island

The South Island of New Zealand has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Not often I run out of words, but there are no words to describe it. At every twist ond turn in the road there is another magnificent view.
At present I am typing this with the most stunning view of Mount Cook out of the window!!
There have been so many fantastic sights and experiences in the last few days that we will be boring you all with them for months to come!!
-We saw albatrosses nesting and soaring on the Otago Peninsula.
-Doubtful and Milford Sound were from another timeless world.
- The water of the lake here is a genuine turquoise blue.
-We saw completely circular boulders on the beach at Moeraki
and so on and so on---- photos to come when we get back.
We are now on day 49 of the trip and are generally holding up pretty well - although it is becoming increasing hard to get moving in the mornings!!!
The 'Fiji' situation is now completely sorted - we are bypassing Fiji and going straight to Honolulu via Sydney. That will be R and R time when we begin to get grounded for the return home.
It feels as if we have been away for such a long time, but in other ways it seems to have gone very quickly.
The mobile phone network in New Zealand has gone crazy over the last few weeks. I sent texts to wish you all a Happy New Year, but don't think they got through the ether. So a belated Happy New Year to you all!!