We have done it, and it was absolutely wonderful. With our great friends, Stuart and Phyllis, Sarah and I emerged at Sandfly Point yesterday (15th) lunchtime, having begun at 10 am Thursday 11th. Triumphant, tired and excited. It wildly exceeded my expectations. Here are just a few pictures and some commentary for a flavour. This is what you see approaching the track on the boat.

The first day is just a 90 minute walk to the first (Clinton) Hut. We bathed in the Clinton River (breathtakingly cold, and this pic does not reveal the omnipresent sandflies). Though it does reveal...

The track is often in woods and forest...

...and sometimes in the open.

We crossed and recrossed the Clinton River...

and then we saw the Mackinnon Pass over which we were set to climb.

I have to confess I had at the beginning no idea at all that we were to walk up this monster. That's it, in the middle of the picture. That's taken on day two, spent tramping up to the Mintaro Hut.

I haven't taken pics of the huts but here's a quick sketch. 40 bunks. In groups of 8-20, depending on the hut. No electricity, save for solar powered light in the mess hut for a couple of hours in the evening. Gas. Cleanish water. Good loos. Wardens with sense, and humour. Peter, the warden at Clinton Hut is an absolute star, who took us on a nature walk at 5 ish, and opened up the forest to us; a glow worm walk at 10 which revealed umpteen of these stellar slugs, followed by an impromptu night sky talk on the helicopter pad. That was simply brilliant, for it was absolutely dark; that's absolutely, with no cloud (remarkably) and a brilliant sky sparkling with fabulous diamonds. In Orion (upside down of course) , I saw hundreds of stars, the sword and obvious nursery of stars; the Milky Way, so bright; and also the Large Magellanic Cloud looking just like an edge on galaxy) and the Small Magellanic Cloud. Not to mention the Southern Cross. All so far away. So visible.

At the Mintaro Hut, Phyllis insisted that we all bathed in a simply extremity-numbing lake. Yes it had been a strenuous day, but all I can say is that the noise levels generated by the immersion might have caused landslips, and the camera failed to function. So you will have to use your imagination. Here are some tips. Nothing unpresentable was revealed. We all got wet all over. Not all sank below the waistline. It was difficult to get out. Afterwards it felt better. I didn't see anyone else do this. Phyllis was pacified.

Next day we set out up the Mackinnon Pass. It has to be said that the forecast was rain and that the night before was wet. But the sun rose, bright and good. With many waterfalls off the rocks. So here is the Commonwealth Team towards the top of the ascent.

And looking back, more members of the group which left Te Anau Downs two days before. Perhaps a word about them is in order. Two Canadians, two Australian parties (at least), Aussie Family Robinson, eight Israelis, a Dutch couple, in three groups, and us. Here are some of them. And the valley out of which we had climbed

Here are some pictures from the top of the Pass.

Looking South, here is Phyllis and the monument...

And looking North (the direction of travel).

On the way down we have lunch (courtesy Richard's mountaineering ration packs, seen here prepared by Sarah)...

...who also converts mountain stream water to drinking water, courtesy Richard's filter...

The descent was long, over rockfalls and avalanches, to the tree line and then so many beautiful and spectacular waterfalls. One could have photographed all day long. But here is (part of) the granddaddy of them all, the Sutherland Falls.

And we passed places like this.

Arriving at late at Dumpling Hut we swam/washed in the (marginally less) cold river (again the camera refused to function) and we bedded down after a good dinner (washed down with the last bottle of wine) ready for a 7 am start next day. That was an 11.5 mile dash to the 2 pm boat at Sandfly Point in Milford Sound. Which we paced well and made safely... as you can see.

What an exciting journey to have made.