Day 1: Flew from Auckland to Queenstown: Had a lovely evening in Queenstown and great airial views of the lakes and S. Island mountains as we came in. Sadly Mount Cook was not visible under the cloud, but the approach to Queenstown airport reminded me of flights and landings in Afghanistan as you come down between the narrow mountains to land..... In the evening we had a great buffet meal at the Skyline Restaurant, situated high up on the hillside with amazing views of the lakes and the Remarkables - the mountains which dominate the town. To get to the restaurant you use a goldola, no not a boat with a man singing about icecream, but a cable car which goes steeply up the side of the mountain. We all had silly photos taken of us in the cabin which have subsequently been inflicted on sundry offspring. Queenstown is pretty expensive and we were glad we were only there one night. It seems to be occupied totally by non Kiwi tourists.

Day 2: Queenstown to Clyde (bus); Clyde to Omakau (Rail Trail). The bus journey to Clyde was very scenic, as you follow the lakes and then pass through a series of gorges, including the one where the original bungy jump was invented (no, we didn't)...... It took us a bit of a time to find where the rail trail started in Clyde ('its behind you') and Bonnie was no where to be seen so there were no hold ups (ha! ha!). The hostel owner, when he realised we were not his customers, left us to find out own way. When we finally found the start of the trail and had the obligatory photographs taken, we set off. After a gentle 7 km to Alexandra, we turned up the river and climbed for the rest of the day, we ascended the valley the wind increased in force until it was blowing into our faces at 70-80km an hour. The last few hours were therefore fairly unplesant and difficult, in the end I walked the last 7 km to the top of the pass above Omakau, it was easier than cycling and anyway the bum hurt..... We found liquid solace at Chatto Creek, where there was cold beer and hammocks!!! Our accommodation in Omakau was great, lovely new chalets well equipped and a hot shower and an enormous pub meal set us up just fine for the next day.