Resigned to the idea we'd be here for a while, I woke up in a better frame of mind. And, even better than that, the rain had stopped! When the wind was in the right direction I could see a tiny bit of a snow-capped peak here and there. It even looked like the sun might manage to break through the fog, which was looking suspiciously blue in some areas.

There was nothing for it - we had to go for a walk. Wrapped up in many layers of t-shirts we headed out to the port. Mitre Peak, the famous symbol of this area was still shrouded in cloud, but that began to swirl away while we looked. We found an enormous waterfall and some slightly disturbing graves that were about to be washed away into the sea, and then wandered through the rainforest a bit.

Back at the hostel, plans had been made for a big dinner on a tour boat later, so we had a quick sandwich (there was nothing left in the hostel shop) and read for a bit and sent a few emails. The internet is extortionatly expensive and had no USB port so we couldn't even spend a couple of hours uploading our diaries. Everyone was getting annoyed that the hostel kept charging their inflated prices even when we had no choice but to buy their food or drink, so the dinner was hopefully going to cheer us up. Ironically, two of the most unhappy strandees had been flown out this morning because they couldn't change their onward flights, missing the hostel's peace-offering. Today was the first day that planes or helicoptors could make it over the mountains, so a few people had taken that option at the expense of their travel insurance companies. With our One World ticket our flights had been changed with a single phone call and at no extra cost.

Later in the afternoon we were told that there would be some ferries taking anyone who wanted to walk a bit of the Milford Track across the Sound. It is a very famous walk, and as the forecast was for weather much like today we both decided to go along.

At about 5pm we drove down to the dock and boarded the huge cruise-liner type ship. We were expecting a tour round the fjords, but it remained stationary. Supper was a large buffet, very filling and a nice change from hostel food. Afterwards we went back to the sitting room, and rauccous drinking games started up. Needless to say, I didn't join in. Instead, I woke my brother up (again!) by phoning to wish hima nice holiday. Then I read in bed until the lights were switched off.