A green Kiwi?

Okay, so we got it wrong. Thought the journey to Te Anau would take much longer but in fact, having left before 9 am got there a shade after 10.30. The Top 10 holiday park would not allow us on site until after 2.pm so what to do for 3.5 hours.

That's one hell of a walking track!

 Te Anau is a town known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. Here can be found endangered, flightless Takahē birds and we were told by the lady in the i site of a small bird sanctuary not far from the town centre where this bird could be seen.

Kaka

Kakariki Parakeet

Takahē

Morepork NZ native owl

 But before she let us go a suggestion was made to take a boat trip across Lake Anua with skipper Peter. A three hour trip to the hidden lake only accessible by boat and a short 20-minute walk through the bush. So more money handed over and by 1 pm, with another 6 adults and 4 children, we set sail.

Gosh, the lake was rough. We were the only two foolhardy people to sit on the front deck, and got buffeted by the wind and soaked by the spray. Neither of us had thought to bring waterproofs and, although I did have a shirt and long trousers to wear, Ian only had T.Shirt and shorts. Those people huddled inside must have thought we were totally mad. Well, I suppose they are right, we are English after all! It wasn't long before the skipper came down from the Bridge and advised us to go inside. "It's going to get a lot rougher than this" he stated. So in we came and was invited to join him on the bridge.

That looks as if a good downpour is imminent.

Yep another waterfall

Captain Peter

This was his good side, wet through he was on the other!

Jetty put there by the DOC for public use. A boat of some sort is needed to land here.

The hidden lake

 Peter stopped us by a fallen tree and asked if anyone had seen a Kiwi in the wild. Not one of us had. "Well today is your lucky day" he grinned. We all looked eagerly around and then he pointed to this branch. We couldn't be disappointed because it gave us such a laugh.

 Back on land and straight round to the holiday site. First thing do washing and then showers. Good job we were early cos a large site like this only had 4 washing machines and 4 dryers and to add insult to injury only 3 washers and three dryers were working. By the time my wash had finished 3 more bods were waiting to use the machines, all the rest were in use.

Tomorrow we are off to Milford Sound. An 8.15am pick up right by the Top 10 reception. Soooo looking forward to that trip. Need to take the insect repellant. Apparently, the sandflies are relentless.