And finally the Routeburn Track. Traversing the Harris Pass and joining The Divide, which lies on the Te Anau - Milford Sound road, and the Routeburn Valley that leads into the head of Lake Whakatipu and resides near the sleepy town of Glenorchy. Straying along the upper edge of the Hollyford Valleys north face, the views from the path look south towards the Darren Mountains and seaward to the Tasman down the throat of the Hollyford River. Day 2 from lake MacKenzie Hut saw snow. Such an unexpected guest, but a well and truly loved best friend. The scenary overnight changed dramatically from the warm hues reflected from the sun to the shear whiteness brought by the blanket of icy moisture. The whole day was walked in light flurries of flakes and bursts of light. Stunning! And I now know the true meaning of 'pass'. A mountain not quite as high as the rest!!! To compare the Milford to the Routeburn is time wasted. Both very unique and quite different. It's sad now to sit here back in the city, behind the screen and relive the journey through pictures as the memories and experience flow forth. Appreciation is something gathered from such contrasts.

Now playing: Shiloh - Vonyc Sessions

Milford Sound, nestled in shear fiord walls, is deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park. This place makes you realise how strong mother nature is in its ability to carve huge U shaped gouges in the surface of the earth. Long gone are the glaciers that scorched their mark over 13000 years ago, although the tips of the peaks still hold the last of the glacial ice. The Sound itself averages 200m deep and the cliff faces loom up to 1600m above. It's so hard to describe the massiveness of these mountains of rock. The atmosphere of the surrounds is gobsmacking. Two out of three days sees rain, and not just ordinary rain. Between 7 and 8 metres of rain falls each year in these parts, with the hillside awash with nemerous waterfalls cascading down to the salty bath at the bottom. The shear volume of water means that there is an 8 metre deep freshwater layer floating on top of the tidal sea which feeds from the Tasman some 10 miles west of Milford Sound town. From Milford Track to Milford Sound time for the Routeburn Track.

Now playing: Sofa Surfers - Gamelan

They say a picture paints a thousand words, there aren't enough words to describe the beauty and mesmerising nature the Fiordland National Park has on the senses. There can be few places in the world that can surpass this place in terms of natural, untouched landscapes and all this in 'Gods Own' back yard. Jeepers we're a lucky bunch, us Kiwis! Below are a 'few' images of the Milford track. No pictures can do it justice, go and see for yourselves.

Now playing: Nick Warren - Live at Studio, Budapest (Classic Party)

With daylight saving all over rover, the shadows are drawing longer sooner, the air is chilling quicker and the shades of orange into the evening seem more wintery. The true feeling of Autumn is now kicking in although the sun is still breathing its warmth hard during the days. But nothing can stall the impending wintery fix about to envlop us in the coming months.....

Now playing: Minuit - The Guards Themselves

The big finale of the Summer festivals came and went yesterday, with Fat Freddy's Drop playing a stonking 2 hour set into the early evening. Coinciding with the end of daylight saving, Grey Lynn Park was full to the gunnels with high spirits, smiling faces and positive energy to burn. Long live the Summer!!!

Now playing: Sofa Surfers - 21st Century Army (feat. Oddatee)

Last night saw the end of the Titirangi Festival of Music 2008, a week long celebration of kiwi music. Held in the local hall, arriving took me back to the days of Form 2 social at Feilding Intermediate! Last time I saw Pitch Black, was in the sereal underground space of Fabric in London. Then, like now, they rocked the party deep down and dirty. The suprise however was Minuit. A Head thumping experience like nothing I've seen, with the cool soft voice of the female vocalist side by side some heavy beats made for one hell of an ear fest! HOORAA!!! Supporting them both and warming the tentative crowd, Tahuna Breaks set the atmosphere with a 7 piece band laying down some fat funky sounds. A superb night and big ups to the Titirangi Festival of Music giving us such aural pleasures.

Now playing: Pitch Black - Speech (Freedom Of Speech Mix) (of course)

As the summery weather carries well on into the Autumnal abyse, the season of festivals slowly draws to a close. The Phoenix Festival held in Basque Park, a somewhat underutilised field of green deep in the heart of Auckland town, is one of the last remaining on the calender. SJD kicked the arvo off with a rip roaring set that pleased the crowd no end with the highly energised band of brothers, Kora, wrapping the evening up with their awesome drum and bassness. Long live the Summer of 2008!!!

Now playing: Hercules & Love Affair - Athene

Oi! Have got myself set back up to some sort of normality, settled comfortably into my new abode and loving being in the Kingsland hood once more. It feels soooo home. So, pictures will be more forth coming now that I'm a little more grounded and have the ability to take time out to peruse the openess of my surroundings. And please, listen to the track below, it's dreamy. Found it in a mix by Jody Wisternoff at hybridized!

Now playing: Kimouts - Down to Earth (mesmerisingly beautiful)

Now playing: Alpha - With (Underdog remix)

Sunny Summer Sunday. It's sooooo brill!!!

Now playing: Funky Lowlives - Sail Into The Sun

Today saw the arrival of the A1 GP entourage into the often quiet town of Taupo. The closest thing NZ will get to Formula 1 and these things are quite the spectacle. Never mind the bleeding ears from the screaming motors, Johnnie Reid, came in first in the sprint and fourth in the main event later in the day.

Now playing: Quincy Conserve - Aire Of Good Feeling (Kiwi 60's goodness)

A second visit to the gannet colony on the tip of Cape Kidnappers was a must as the first journey via the overland farm track was before the young chicks were born. This jaunt was taken via the gargantuan cliffs that rise up to 800ft above the beach. Truly, the most spectacular vertical landforms I've encountered in New Zealand. The gannets again were masters in the sky and the waiting balls of cotton wool perched on the precipices and rocky outcrops were intriguing to sight and inquisitively alert, for shortly they would be taking the leap of faith and hoping their outstretched wings would firstly save them from the fall and secondly get them to Australia. Sadly, 70 - 80% never make the return journey home to foster their young. A must visit.

Kai Iwi Lakes, Northland. Primo!

Now playing: Ady Zehnpfennig - Easter Afternoon

Now playing: The Chemical Brothers - The Salmon Dance (Crookers Wow Mix)

Primo weather, beautiful blue water, the Summer is unleashing itself upon us with full vigor. Hooray. The day and tide saw the prime opportunity to launch the fizz boat and skate across the harbour to Saddle Island, that covers the entry to the Mahurangi. The marine vehicles were abundant with many towing skiers, sea biscuits and the like, criss crossing each others paths and creating a many happy face. C'mon 2008!!!

Now playing: The Chemical Brothers - The Salmon Dance (Hervé Remix)

Welcome 2008, the year of cheeky!

Now playing: Lou Stafford - When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along