Te Anau 6 Dec 2004
One of the quietest towns in the world....fact.
Milford Sound 7 to 8 Dec 2004
'Lord of the Rings' area of massive mountains & water
Left Queenstown feeling rather unwell on the Monday & headed to Milford Sound, stopping in a town called Te Anua - now holder of the quietest place we've ever visited title - everything shut at 9. Milford Sound was great & we got a good day to go on a boat trip around it. Great, aside from sand flies sucking out our blood.

Cronwell 9 Dec 2004
Running against Te Arau for the quietest town award, hands down winner though of the strangest town.
Headed from Milford Sound to the new holder of the quietest & weirdest town in the world - Cromwell - it was very much like the film 28 days later (aside from the zombies) there was no one there! I thought someone in a white suit and gas mask was going to run up to us saying a virus had entered the town and we had to leave. Very very strange. The smoking ban had just come in that day - so that could be the reason!

Franz Joseph 10 to 12 Dec 2004
Ice climbing, glaciers & social faux pas on the agenda here. Another trip highlight
From Quietsville we headed to The Franz Joseph & Fox Glaciers - pretty impressive, but would of been more so if we hadn't seen the glaciers in South America. We did some ice climbing over Franz which was a good time and then, that night I made a fool of myself.....I will set the scene. We're in a bar eating & a couple sit next to us, we get talking & find out they're from Co Tipp. All going well, until our new found friend Barry starts talking about bungy jumping. Que Rob putting his foot in it big time..

Rob: "Yeah, we went & watched some bungy jumping a few days ago - there was this poor girl who tried to jump, but couldn't and after 10 minutes had to come back in and to make it worse, she was followed by this 12 year old boy who just jumped right off - couldn't believe it"

Helen: "When and where did you see this"

Rob:  "Oh, on Monday morning, just outside Queenstown"

Helen: "Um, that was me"

Very shame faced Rob suddenly clicking who they where: "Um, Um, Um - who wants a drink"?!!>>>Still, we met them again the next day and it was fine - phew!!

Dunedin 16 to 22 Dec 2004
Home to Chi Chi & Ben, friends from Ireland. A wet town, but a great time had with familiar faces.  

Chi Chi & Ben,  treated us very well over the 5 days we were with them - highlights - some lovely dinners (Italians with too much wine and a great 5 courser at Bens restaurant), being able to wake up in the middle of the night and not have to cross a park to go to the toilets, a fire and generally just spending time with friends