A little over 2 weeks into the South Island adventure. Since the last update in Kaiteriteri we have had a bit of weather to deal with …
– The trip from Kaiteriteri to Westport took much longer than planned with the road through the Buller Gorge closed so it was a detour through Reefton.
– In Westport and the surrounds we took in the Seal Colony and Lighthouse and made the stop at the Pancake Rocks on route to Greymouth.
– We spent a couple of nights in Greymouth due to some pretty horrific weather.
– We moved onto Hokitika where we spent a night in a DOC camping ground on Lake Kaniere … and woke to some stunning views.
– From Hokitika we moved to Franz Josef where we arrived in time to get to the Glacier before the weather closed in again.
– We decided to cut a track after a night while the Haast Pass was open (after a reasonably lengthy closure and in advance of another weather system). Despite the weather the road was OK although the effects of the storm and reason for the closure were evident. We were still able to take in a couple of waterfalls and the Blue Pools on route.
– A night at lake Hawea and catching up with a colleague.
– Onto Wanaka where we are currently stationed (having extended our stay here to 3 nights) … the snow started falling soon after arrival and kept falling … the locals tell us the snow line was much lower than the peak of the ski season. It made for spectacular views in the following days, we checked out the town, took a boat trip to see a lake on an island on the lake and took bike ride round the lake … this wasn’t entirely as planned given the height of the river … we forded a couple of sections but when we came to one that was a few feet deep we turned and retreated … all part of the adventure!!!
– Off to Queenstown/Cromwell tomorrow.