Apologies if the formatting of this blog isn't quite right - I'm writing it on my phone! Will check it when I get my laptop to free wifi :-)
The last few days have been a bit of a whirlwind of walking, hiking, snow, forests, and beaches... Here's a brief run down:
Fox Glacier
After a lovely lady in a national park gave us a weather update, we rescheduled our helihike to the day earlier, and what a great decision it was. Friday, just after lunch, we were kitted up and flying in beautiful sunshine up to a glacier - I don't know if we were more excited about helicopters or the glacier, but either way we were really excited! Pretty soon on our hike we were shown our first ice cave, with the statement of "it's pretty narrow", which half way through we discovered was the biggest understatement of the century, as we ended up lying on our back, sliding down the ice with just an inch of space between our faces and the ice - we both agreed we would never have gone in if we'd known, but we came out on such a high, very glad that we did go in!! The rest of the day didn't involve quite so much squeezing but did involve more ice caves, and lots of pretty pictures (to be added when I get my laptop to wifi!)
After a lovely lady in a national park gave us a weather update, we rescheduled our helihike to the day earlier, and what a great decision it was. Friday, just after lunch, we were kitted up and flying in beautiful sunshine up to a glacier - I don't know if we were more excited about helicopters or the glacier, but either way we were really excited! Pretty soon on our hike we were shown our first ice cave, with the statement of "it's pretty narrow", which half way through we discovered was the biggest understatement of the century, as we ended up lying on our back, sliding down the ice with just an inch of space between our faces and the ice - we both agreed we would never have gone in if we'd known, but we came out on such a high, very glad that we did go in!! The rest of the day didn't involve quite so much squeezing but did involve more ice caves, and lots of pretty pictures (to be added when I get my laptop to wifi!)
Lake Matheson
Also near Fox Glacier, this lake is a great one for taking those reflection photos that are iconic of New Zealand. Unfortunately the best time to take those photos is dawn or dusk, and we were certainly not up at dawn after the excitement of yesterday, but the views were stunning all the same!
Also near Fox Glacier, this lake is a great one for taking those reflection photos that are iconic of New Zealand. Unfortunately the best time to take those photos is dawn or dusk, and we were certainly not up at dawn after the excitement of yesterday, but the views were stunning all the same!
Pancake Rocks
We headed to pancake rocks mostly because of the name, but also because it was the perfect driving stopping distance! A quick check in the information centre told us high tide was the best time and that was at 12.40, so we set off in search of some caves first, and we were not disappointed. As it's winter over here, we passed just four people all morning, and when we got to the caves, we were the only ones in there, so we could explore to our hearts content (which I was more keen on than Chris I think!). After getting as far as we could through the stalagmites and stalactites, we headed back to the pancakes, and watched the high tide slam around them, wearing them slowly away. Unfortunately no blow holes, but impressive all the same.
We headed to pancake rocks mostly because of the name, but also because it was the perfect driving stopping distance! A quick check in the information centre told us high tide was the best time and that was at 12.40, so we set off in search of some caves first, and we were not disappointed. As it's winter over here, we passed just four people all morning, and when we got to the caves, we were the only ones in there, so we could explore to our hearts content (which I was more keen on than Chris I think!). After getting as far as we could through the stalagmites and stalactites, we headed back to the pancakes, and watched the high tide slam around them, wearing them slowly away. Unfortunately no blow holes, but impressive all the same.
Lake Rotoiti
Another good driving distance, we stopped at this lake mostly based on one line in the Lonely Planet that said it had some nice walks. Another helpful lady in the information centre sent us up a hill with an "easy gradient" (if that's an easy gradient when I'm her age, I'm beyond pleased with myself!)that meandered in and out of the bushline as it climbed. We got up to the snowline, stopped for some lunch, and decided to keep going a bit - a decision that pleased Chris more than me, as I kept sinking in the snow! We made it up to a little hut that travellers can stay in, and turned around - the walk back down was much faster!
Another good driving distance, we stopped at this lake mostly based on one line in the Lonely Planet that said it had some nice walks. Another helpful lady in the information centre sent us up a hill with an "easy gradient" (if that's an easy gradient when I'm her age, I'm beyond pleased with myself!)that meandered in and out of the bushline as it climbed. We got up to the snowline, stopped for some lunch, and decided to keep going a bit - a decision that pleased Chris more than me, as I kept sinking in the snow! We made it up to a little hut that travellers can stay in, and turned around - the walk back down was much faster!
The Ferry
The next day we were in Picton, a little town consisting mostly of hostels, motels and hotels to house the travellers getting off the ferry from the North Island. We wandered along the coast line for a little bit, before heading back to the campervan to get on the ferry. On the ferry, we watched the impressive coastline until it was out of sight, and then planned our route round the North Island, which will include hobbits, thermal areas, glowworms and more! Excitement!
The next day we were in Picton, a little town consisting mostly of hostels, motels and hotels to house the travellers getting off the ferry from the North Island. We wandered along the coast line for a little bit, before heading back to the campervan to get on the ferry. On the ferry, we watched the impressive coastline until it was out of sight, and then planned our route round the North Island, which will include hobbits, thermal areas, glowworms and more! Excitement!
No comments:
Post a Comment