Our travels through New Zealand continued on to Fox Glacier. This was much larger than Franz Josef and the huge valley was awash with tiny flecks of gold, a link to the goldrush days which also touched this country.We started the day at Lake Matheson and for the first time since we arrived, there was almost a busy air about this gorgeous spot. As I've mentioned, the tourist places seem so uncrowded and here the car park was almost full for the first
time. If this beautiful lake - surrounded by trees with the only sounds being birds and trickling water and the view of the mountains in the distance - was anywhere in Europe, it would be overflowing with visitors.Our next destination was Wanaka, and we drove the 260km through mountains, past streams and through valleys in awe of what we were seeing. As we neared the town itself we drove for miles along Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, mouth open at jaw-droppingly stunning landscape.
Wanaka itself is a calm little town of 10,000 people settled at the edge of the lake, surrounded by hills and dramatic scenery. It's simply the most beautiful place I have ever been. The view from the little cabin we are staying in says it all.
As we arrived, we found part of the town blocked off for the Challenge Wanaka event - a triathlon where crazy, fit people swim 3.8km, cycle 180km and run a full 42km marathon. The winner did this in just under 9 hours! It seems this event is world renowned and we were so lu
cky to be there as the athletes finished the last leg, the running. One guy of 80 years old came in - he and two other guys had done a leg each and the others in his team were youngsters - just 72 and 72 years old... The whole thing was very inspiring.Yesterday, we set off for the Roy's Peak walk, not fully understanding that it was a track that went directly upwards from the beginning. We walked uphill solidly for 75 minutes, wondering how hard it would be to get to the peak, when we met a couple coming down. "How far from the top are we?" I asked. "About half way" they answered. At that moment it started raining. Cue quick descent back down...
But the views on the way were worth every hard step.
Today is 19th January and we've been away now for nearly three months, with exactly two months left. For the first time, we've started to trun our minds seriously towards the future when we get back. But we try to focus on being here, now, and on all there will be to see on our way through Australia and back home via Hong Kong and Thailand, in this unique and lucky time of our lives. 
