Day 1: (Monday 14/03/05 Taranaki Anniversary Day) We flew and drove from various points around the country to Te Anau where we took the bus to Te Anau Downs to catch the Fiordland Express catamaran for the 30km trip to the top of the lake.

We travelled on a near mirror smooth lake past the North Fiord, and up to the jetty where the walking begins. The guided group hardly have to get their packs on before The Glade is reached! We continued on to Clinton Hut, which was big and modern and clearly environmentally sound. It needs to be, given the numbers of trampers.

Had a sharp earthquake in the evening, but nothing came down off the "hills" towering 1.7km above us!