Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Thursday 2nd February

Haast to Westport

Woke with lots of Mosquitoes bites & lots of buzzing all night. Tried to sleep under the covers but sweated cobbs all night. On the road to Fox Glacier early after a quick & easy breakfast.

Taramakau River Road & Rail Bridge on Highway 6

Crossed Cook River on way to Fox Glacier Village. First sighting of a road and rail bridge  at Camerons, near Greymouth. As we waited for Information Centre to open at Fox Village, the gods drew back the cloud curtains high in the sky to reveal the Southern Alps. Very strange sensation for someone who never raises his head more than a few degrees to see the top of the mountain.

Southern Alps from Fox Village

Coffee at the Fox Glacier car park before the walk in to the unknown. When entering the Fox Glacier car park, Chris and I had a big shock at the first speed hump, or sleeping policeman. The bus almost took off, Neither of us saw the potential problem, the hump look innocuous. Walked up the old glacier bed, of 1930's and earlier. Signs on the road to the car park show where the ice has retreated from over the years. Short diversion for safety to left of glacier over stream stepping stones to the glacier viewing area. 

Path to Fox Glacier

Apart from a couple leaving the area, nobody was around, so I was tempted to nip over the rope and walk the couple of hundred years to touch the ice. The thought only lasted a millisecond. The huge slices of ice were at precarious angles, just like cut slices of bread all falling over when opening a packed.

Fox Glacier from Path

Fox Glacier from Path

Fox Glacier from Path

Fox Glacier - Bottom End of Ice

End of Fox Glacier Ice - Start of Fox River

Derek at Fox Glacier

Looking back from Fox Glacier towards Cone Rock

The views of the glacier are so spectacular, I decided I would like to see Franz Josef Glacier also. Hurried back to Chris waiting in the bus to discussed the itinerary. 

Franz Josef Glacier from End of Wooded Area

Walked from Franz Josef car park along the wooded path and the old bed of the glacier to the current ice face. Walk much longer than it looked across the wide bolder ridden valley floor, past huge vertical cliffs and spectacular waterfalls. The end of the ice face looked disappointing at first, then I realised the ice was dirty from dust and stones off the nearby rock face.

Franz Josef Glacier from Path

Met a couple of Canadians, Chris & Rory, taking a photo of a Canadian Flag. I offered to take a photo so they could both be in the shot. They reciprocated by taking a photo of me & Flat Cody. 

Canadians, Rory & Chris by Franz Josef Glacier

Wilson Rock Waterfalls from Franz Josef Glacier Path

Derek at Franz Josef Glacier

Next to the ice face was, and probably still is, a massive pile of stones, each stone an average of 5cm across. When I walked towards the hill of stones I realised it had been roped off, with a sign saying, guided groups only beyond this point. I discussed the situation at length with an American and we decided to recruit a large group and take the plunge. I puffed up hill as usual, but when we reached the top, the views were magnificent. 

Franz Josef Glacier

Lots of more photos before hurrying back to Chris at the minibus. Have a careful look at the next three photos of climbers on the ice. The photos are an example of the actual size of the huge and vast ice field.

Walkers on Franz Josef Glacier

Walkers Slightly Left and Up from Middle of Photo

Walkers Slightly Left of Middle of Photo

Drove north on Highway 6 past 'Ross', a former gold mining town, to 'Hokitika' for some provisions and a coffee.

Dense Bush before Ross

Hokitika Town Centre

Wonderful varied scenery on West Coast, unfortunately the weather wasn't too kind, with several showers around Hokitika. The low cloud obscured the impressive views of the Southern Alps for most of our journey north. Stopped at Shantytown Replica Mining Town. Too late to ride the steam train but we both enjoyed the atmosphere of the old buildings. Continued to Greymouth for a pub lunch and a quick look around the town.

Ducks Crossing Road near Chesterfield on Highway 6

Wega Bird in Shantytown

Shantytown Heritage Park

Speights Ale House, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth

Continued north on State Highway 6 again to Paparoa National Park. Stopped at Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, by taking the well planned walkway.

Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki

Blowholes at Punakaiki

North again to Westport to buy fuel and park for the night, armed with insect killer and insect repellent.

24 degrees C, 90% Cloud

5% Rain

Warm & Dull 

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Wednesday 1st February

Middlemarch to Haast

Woke to a sunny day, but still windy. Good views across the Rock & Pillar Range of Mountains. Only a few trees by picnic area, but from wind noise it sounded like a forest of trees. A quick swig of water, then on the road, State Highway 87, soon reaching Sutton and Middlemarch. Shower of rain & low cloud after Middlemarch, but by the time we reach Hyde and passed Brent's truck the weather had started to brighten. The Central Otago Rail Trail started in Middlemarch and after passing we kept an eye on the route as it wound its way either side of the road. The trail is the route of the old rail track bed and is now converted to a walking and cycling route. Soon after Hyde we passed a memorial site for a train crash in 1943, when 21 people died.

Memorial to Train Crash  4th June 1943

We stopped for coffee and to stretch our legs at Ranfurly, as the low cloud over the mountains was slowly starting to lift. We enjoyed the coffee at the Ewes and Moos Cafe opposite an anti-aircraft gun. I took even more photos then on the road again.

Anti Aircraft Gun in Ranfurly

The next stop was Wedderburn, by the old original railway station. Now the favourite stopping location for the walkers and riders on the Central Otago Rail Trail. Several could be seen milling around the station. Continued on Highway 85, passing the North Rough Ridge Mountains and the Raggedy Range Mountains to Omakau and Springvale, where we turned right to miss Alexandra Town for Highway 8. Many of the mountains we were passing are higher than the Lake District peaks and most of Snowdonia.

Otago Central Rail Station, Wedderburn

Soon after joining Highway 8 we arrived at Clyde, the location of the new Hydro Electricity Dam. We stopped to view the massive and impressive engineering achievement as the weather improved further. (Memories of the other Clyde Hydro Project at New Lanark, near Glasgow, AA book 'No Through Road' Walk No.??) After Clyde we travelled the Cromwell Gorge, again awesome views of the Old Man Range Mountains to the west and Dunston Range Mountains to the east.

Clyde Dam & Power Station

Stopped again at a picnic area along the Cromwell Gorge by Lake Dunston, to take photos, more breathtaking views of Cromwell Gorge.

Lake Dunston from Cromwell-Clyde Road

Lake Dunston from Cromwell-Clyde Road Picnic Area

Lake Dunston from Cromwell-Clyde Road Picnic Area

Picnic Area from Cromwell-Clyde Road

Short distance down the road before we stopped yet again. This time to see the location a former gold rush in 1862.

Lake Dunston from near Cromwell

Visited Cromwell Old Town. Signed the visitors book and spent time viewing the museums before we went shopping for food and fuel.

Cromwell from Highway 8

Cornish Point on Lake Dunston & Dunston Mountains from Old Cromwell

Cromwell Old Town

From Cromwell we continued along Lake Dunston with the Pisa Range Mountains on the left. The mountains were becoming more and more impressive as we travelled further north and west towards the west coast and the Southern Alps.

Grandview Mountain Range by Highway 8a
 from Highway 6 near Queensbury

As we approached Wanaka we passed Puzzling World, where buildings are leaning in all directions.

Puzzling World from Highway 84 before Wanaka

Lunch on Lakeside at Wanaka with garden birds on table looking for scraps. Fantastic views across Lake Wanaka to Rob Roy Peak and the Southern Alps.

Rob Roy Peak & Lake Wanaka from Ardmore Street, Wanaka

House Sparrow on Ardmore Street, Wanaka

More magnificent views of mountains by Lakes Hawea & Wanaka and Haast Pass between Mount Aspiring National Park and Mountain Ranges Mataketake & Young.

Corner Peak from Lake Hawea

Mount Strauchon from Lake Hawea

Breast Hill & Lake Hawea

Corner Peak & Lake Hawea

Silver Island, Rocky Point & Lake Hawea

Southern Alps & Lake Wanaka

Mount Burke of Southern Alps from near Makarora

Travelled down Haast Pass and visited the impressive Fantail Falls & Thunder Creek Falls. Continued down Haast Pass to Haast Village. Considered stopping for night, but decided to continue north along coast. Sea mist prevented us from seeing the sea horizon. Stopped on Bruce Bay, but as we fiddled with the gas we realised the sand flies were biting. When we finished our sandwiches we moved to just beyond Jacob's River Village to stop for the night. There we were bothered by mosquitoes. Swig of beer before retiring for the night.

Fantail Falls iin Haast Pass

Thunder Creek Falls in Haast Pass

Approaching Haast on the Tasman Sea Coast

25 degrees, 50% cloud

Rain at first

Glorious sunshine later