Continuation of Active New Zealand Manuka Hiker
Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers - Okarito Lagoon - Punakiki - Arthur's Pass - Antarctic Center
Westland NP - we explored quite a bit of this park as we hiked around Lake Matheson, viewed Both Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers, & kayaked on Okarito Lagoon
What is a glacier? A glacier is a huge moving mass of old winter snow compressed to ice descending down a valley about 100,000 times slower than a river.
Climate and topography are the recipe for a glacier: The highest peaks of the Southern Alps rise 3000 meters above the Franz Josef Glacier. The mountains cause moisture-laden winds to rapidly ascend, dumping huge amounts of rain, and at high attitudes snow.
Fox Glacier from the air
my view of Fox Glacier
a closer view of the glacier
top of Fox Glacier as viewed from the road (Damon drove to a scenic view that he knew about)
Mt. Cook & Tasman as seen from the road at the beginning of the hike around Lake Matheson
a view with Lake Matheson in the foreground
an aerial view of Franz Josef
my view w/regular lens
zoom lens
closer view
we stayed 2 nights at The Rainforest Retreat (Tree Lodges, Tree Houses & Log Cottages) in Franz Josef and this was my cabin
Today is the only day I repeated anything on the trip and it was something I wanted to repeat--the 4 hours of sea kayaking in the Okarito Lagoon. However, this time I was in a single kayak instead of a double and I loved it.
Okarito is NZ's largest lagoon that remains in its original natural condition and it is surrounded by the lowland podocarp rainforests of Westland National Park. On a clear day there are truly magnificent panoramas of the Southern Alps.
The Lagoon is the main feeding ground for White Herons whose only NZ breeding colony adjoins the lagoon and on this trip I finally saw one and even got pictures of it.
Janet & Barb
We drove north along the west coast from Franz Josef to Punakaiki and since it was about a 3-hour drive we stopped in Hokitika for a little shopping.
various views scanned in from the motel postcard
Pancake Rocks & Blowholes
These strange formations are caused by a chemical process. The limestone rocks began forming 30 million years ago when layers of lime-rich mud made from tiny fragments of dead marine creatures such as bivalve shellfish and other mollusks were deposited on the seabed in an even layer of sediment and then overlaid by weaker sheets of soft mud and clay. Earthquake action lifted and tilted the seabed to form coastal cliffs, and the sea, wind and water have etched out the soft layers to produce the stark relief of stratified formations. The blowholes are the result of massive undermining of these weird structures by wave action. When high tides coincide with strong westerly winds, high seas surge into caverns, causing enough pressure to propel impressive geysers of spume and spray up through clefts in the rock.
the Pancake Rocks were VERY unique - they do indeed look like giant stacks of pancakes and in distinct layers
The grassy stalks are NZ flax. Unlike traditional flax which resembles wheat or oats, NZ flax has a very broad leaf and was used by the Maori for clothing and shelter. Woven it made mats.
Forest Canopy Zone - At the start of the track away from the direct harshness of wind and salt-spray grows a forest dominated by northern rata and rimu. Tree fern, nikau palm, broadleaf, supplejack and kie-kievine's thrive within this protective canopy.
Coastal Turf Zone - Lashed with salt-spray and ripped by wind, the edge zone is home to sea primrose.
Coastal Flax Zone - Nearer the land's edge is a zone of flax which can live with salt-spray and wind.
part of the forest canopy zone
the beach
coastal turf zone - note the lone Nikau Palm on top of the cliff
coastal flax zone
Damon & Paula are barbecuing steak, chicken shish kebab, venison sausage and lamb sausage for our final dinner. In addition Paula fixed 3 wonderful side dishes--one with rice as the main ingredient, a waldorf salad, and a slaw. The piece de resistance was a Pavlov dessert with sliced kiwis on top.
on our last day we drove back to Christchurch via Arthur's Pass and drove over the Otario Gorge and stopped at the Arthur's Pass Information Center
the Otario Gorge Viaduct - a road was first completed here in 1865 but after several bad avalanches this improved viaduct was completed in 1990
the previous section protects the traffic from rock falls and water washouts and this picture gives you an idea of the length of the viaduct
while I was waiting for my flight in the Christchurch airport I walked over to the Antarctic Center
pictures I took from video displays inside the Antarctic Center
Goodbye to Aotearoa "The Land of the Long White Cloud"
for pictures of other vacations return to the
Vacation Photos page
