Whether by helicopter from Quintin Lodge or, at the end of the Milford Track, by boat from Sandfly Point, we all arrived at Mitre Peak Lodge in Milford Sound at the end of the fourth day where we spent the night. Wines were opened, toasts made and certificates attesting to completion of "the finest walk in the world" distributed.

Reminiscent of the coast of Norway it's easy to understand why the southern portion of the South Island is called the Fiordlands. Mountains rise abruptly from the sea, water ... rock ... straight up. On the fifth day prior to our return to Queenstown we cruised Milford Sound out to the Tasman Sea.