Coddiwomple Stardate 171128
Friday morning saw us on our way to Franz Josef Glacier. We had a stop at Punakaiki for pancakes. Had the backpacker special a stack of pancakes for only $10 instead of $18. Should of had one stack between us they were huge with maple syrup, cream & cinnamon. We gave our driver Nat one instead of wasting them. After the pancakes we walked over the road and followed the path around the coast through rainforest and the pancake rock formations.
We stopped again for views along the coast and Hokitika for lunch. Hokitika is known for there Jade and driftwood. Then another stop at Lake Mahinapua to see white Heron"s blown over from Australia. Apparently if you see them it is good luck and your weather will be great at Franz Josef Glacier. Next stop and another Lake called Mapourika which was formed through glacial action. The day had become wet a gloomy the lake grey and the mountains covered in heavy cloud. We arrived at our accommodation about 4.30pm called Rainforest Retreat which is surrounded by rainforest. Sharon helped the staff with booking us all in and I received a free pint of beer for her efforts.
Woke up Saturday to clear skies so all activities were on. Sharon and I decided to go kayaking on Lake Mapourika instead of going up on the Glacier it would have been $400 each to catch a 3min helicopter flight so we could walk on the Glacier. Felt like it would not be as good as we have experienced before. We have walked on a Glacier at Svalbard had a BBQ up against a glacier in Greenland and snow mobiled across a glacier in Iceland. So kayaking was something different and being an absolutely perfect day we had great views across the snow capped mountains from the perfectly still lake. ( says the guy who only sat back and let his wife paddle there and back) Even paddled up a creek to a Kiwi Reservation which only our tour company is allowed to traverse. Today has been a very rare day. Last peak season December to January the helicopters could only fly for a total of 5 days. So our white Heron brought us good luck after all.
Sunday was a reversal of Saturday low cloud and rain. Those wanting to do skydiving or glacier walks had been cancelled. But we mainly were on the bus most of the time heading to Wanaka. Our first stop was a view over Fox Glacier and then a walk around Lake Mueller one of those lakes that is picture perfect on the right days. Then on to Ship Creek off the Haast Hwy for lunch. We sat on driftwood logs and watched Hector dolphins having a feed close to shore. Then we headed to the Hasst Pass Hwy and a few more photo stops before stopping at Thunder Creek Falls. It is a 96m fall that flows into the Haast River. It has a psychedelic affect on you. 2/3 of the way up the falls you stare at the water for 30 seconds then look to your right at some rocks and your vision just keeps moving and flowing into curved images. Next stop was Blue Pools 6 degree water where Sharon & I had to have a swim in it. Absolutely crystal clear blue water and even I have to admit it was cold. A few of the younger ones from our bus chose to jump off the bridge. Then more stops for photos at Lake Wanaka which reminded us of Lock McNess & Lake Hawea which is only separated by 1km of land looked like the Swiss Alps. Then we were at Wanaka for the night which is a beautiful little town on the shores of Lake Wanaka.
Monday was a perfect day and I decided to hire a mountain bike and go on a 18km self guided ride along Clutha River onto Lake Wanaka. Clutha River is the second longest river in New Zealand and longest in the South Island. It is the highest volume river and swiftest in New Zealand. It was also the most picturesque river I have seen so far anywhere. The water was crystal clear just felt like jumping in but was on a time frame and couldn't do it. The end of the ride found me at the most photographed tree in the world. It was an old fence post in Lake Wanaka but has regrown into a tree. We left Wanaka at 11.30am heading towards Queenstown. On the way had to stop at the Bungee centre for those adrenalin junkies who wanted to jump off the Kawarau Bridge. Then onto Queenstown.
We stopped again for views along the coast and Hokitika for lunch. Hokitika is known for there Jade and driftwood. Then another stop at Lake Mahinapua to see white Heron"s blown over from Australia. Apparently if you see them it is good luck and your weather will be great at Franz Josef Glacier. Next stop and another Lake called Mapourika which was formed through glacial action. The day had become wet a gloomy the lake grey and the mountains covered in heavy cloud. We arrived at our accommodation about 4.30pm called Rainforest Retreat which is surrounded by rainforest. Sharon helped the staff with booking us all in and I received a free pint of beer for her efforts.
Woke up Saturday to clear skies so all activities were on. Sharon and I decided to go kayaking on Lake Mapourika instead of going up on the Glacier it would have been $400 each to catch a 3min helicopter flight so we could walk on the Glacier. Felt like it would not be as good as we have experienced before. We have walked on a Glacier at Svalbard had a BBQ up against a glacier in Greenland and snow mobiled across a glacier in Iceland. So kayaking was something different and being an absolutely perfect day we had great views across the snow capped mountains from the perfectly still lake. ( says the guy who only sat back and let his wife paddle there and back) Even paddled up a creek to a Kiwi Reservation which only our tour company is allowed to traverse. Today has been a very rare day. Last peak season December to January the helicopters could only fly for a total of 5 days. So our white Heron brought us good luck after all.
Sunday was a reversal of Saturday low cloud and rain. Those wanting to do skydiving or glacier walks had been cancelled. But we mainly were on the bus most of the time heading to Wanaka. Our first stop was a view over Fox Glacier and then a walk around Lake Mueller one of those lakes that is picture perfect on the right days. Then on to Ship Creek off the Haast Hwy for lunch. We sat on driftwood logs and watched Hector dolphins having a feed close to shore. Then we headed to the Hasst Pass Hwy and a few more photo stops before stopping at Thunder Creek Falls. It is a 96m fall that flows into the Haast River. It has a psychedelic affect on you. 2/3 of the way up the falls you stare at the water for 30 seconds then look to your right at some rocks and your vision just keeps moving and flowing into curved images. Next stop was Blue Pools 6 degree water where Sharon & I had to have a swim in it. Absolutely crystal clear blue water and even I have to admit it was cold. A few of the younger ones from our bus chose to jump off the bridge. Then more stops for photos at Lake Wanaka which reminded us of Lock McNess & Lake Hawea which is only separated by 1km of land looked like the Swiss Alps. Then we were at Wanaka for the night which is a beautiful little town on the shores of Lake Wanaka.
Monday was a perfect day and I decided to hire a mountain bike and go on a 18km self guided ride along Clutha River onto Lake Wanaka. Clutha River is the second longest river in New Zealand and longest in the South Island. It is the highest volume river and swiftest in New Zealand. It was also the most picturesque river I have seen so far anywhere. The water was crystal clear just felt like jumping in but was on a time frame and couldn't do it. The end of the ride found me at the most photographed tree in the world. It was an old fence post in Lake Wanaka but has regrown into a tree. We left Wanaka at 11.30am heading towards Queenstown. On the way had to stop at the Bungee centre for those adrenalin junkies who wanted to jump off the Kawarau Bridge. Then onto Queenstown.
Thoroughly enjoying your commentary and loving the beautiful photos :)
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