South Island New Zealand - heading North

Sunday, February 7

We're leaving Queenstown this morning. It is another beautiful Day. We make a couple of stops once we’re out of the forest. The cicadas are everywhere. It’s downright noisy.

We drive along Lake Wanaka and stop at the lookout called Lake Hawea to take some photos – along with everyone else.

We travel on and before long find ourselves in Haast, a little place all stretched out along the highway, that everybody calls ‘the wee town’.

We find reasonably priced accommodation in a motel near the super market which also does cheap meals. 

We have a nice quiet night in our wee place in the wee town.

Monday, Feb. 8

I manage to rouse my mate reasonably early so we can be on our way. We’re driving through some lush forest, hearing cicadas and various bird calls. 

Then we come to a beautiful lookout called Knights Point and stop for some photos. I even take a little video to record the birds and cicadas.

Unfortunately, there are lots of strange little flying insects that start to bite me on the feet and ankles and the arms – wherever they can get hold of me. Eventually, those bites are beginning to bother me.

Our next stop is at Lake Paringa, Salmon Ponds where we have coffee. Nannette has a scone and I discover that they have sashimi, so I get a small portion of it and it’s very enjoyable. 

They also have some Aloe Vera products in their shop, so I get a little spray and a tube of gel for the bites that are already bothering me. I am now learning, that those insects are their sand flies.

We continue on and find the turn off for the Fox Glacier. 

At the end of the dirt road is a large car park where we pull up and from there we just walk a little way following the river towards the glacier. 

The walk follows the riverbed which would obviously flood totally with the snow melt in spring, and maybe even during heavy rain. 

The rocks are all shiny and the riverbed is full of glittering pebbles. Even the sandy part is glittery. We only walk a little way, just far enough to get some photos and then return to the car and drive on.

Leaving the glittery valley and heading on towards Franz Josef Glacier.

Franz Josef Township is our lunch stop for the day.

The little town is very noisy with helicopters flying in and out continually. I have decided not to spend money on any heli flights to see glaciers. We have seen bigger glaciers last year in Canada and I have just been to Antarctica. One has to prioritize what to spend ones money on.

After lunch, we continue to head North, drinking in the glorious views.

Eventually, we arrive in the coastal town of Hokitika where we stay for the night. 
The beach is full of wonderful driftwood sculptures.

After a pub dinner, we settle for the night in some very basic accommodation, in a tiny room with bunk beds and shared bathroom. 

Still, it's only one night and we can survive that.