The above photos tell the whole story of our day. We drove from Franz Joseph to Queenstown; it took all day. There was some anxiety about whether we would get through at all.
We crossed the Southern Alps back to the east through the Haast Pass. The rain was torrential with newly formed rapid waterfalls at the side of the road in many places. It was clear where the road had been washed away a few days ago but rapidly repaired. Our driver described conditions as a weather bomb, the like of which he had never seen. Apparently a metre of rain has fallen in the last few days.
We will be here for three nights. Our Milford Sound Cruise is cancelled as the roads are impassable. 200 people are still trapped there. All the attractions in Queenstown seem to involve outdoor activities.
Our hotel is a little way from the centre, up a big hill.
Apart from all that we’ve had a great day!
Australia and New Zealand 2020 
Oh dear. I’m following it all if not commenting every day. The news reports we can see here are ‘Stranded tourists airlifted from rain-ravaged areas of New Zealand’s south island’ but they aren’t making major headlines yet (overshadowed by Streatham terrorist attack and brexit). Current reports today saying 200 tourists trapped in Milford Sound. are they planning to airlift you out or just wait until rain stops. Glad to see you are still managing to enjoy much of it!
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We are not cut off here but have two free days without much to do. If the rain continues it will be a bit wearisome.
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