DAY 12 FRANZ JOSEPH-WANAKA

 Well no helicopter ride today. It bucketed down overnight and despite it being sunny in the village the clouds wer thick in the mountains, so no flying was possible. We hung around the village for a few hours hoping it would clear, but it was'nt to be. We decided to head to Fox Glacier hoping it might clear by the time we got there, but it remained the same. Very dissapointed as this was one of the things we had been hanging out to do. We might still get an opportunity when we get to Mt Cook next week.

This is as close as we got to fox glacier and we didnt even see Frannz Joseph.

There was a tyre place in Fox and they were able to patch the tyre properly. As you can see I was closely supervising the whole operation. Was just like beeing at work.

We headed off along the stunning coast. Some stone Cairns erected by tourists along the road at Bruce Bay

We could see Dan & Rosannes place from here....Rosie you really should put a robe on when doing your morning stretch at from your Balcony. ;-)

From there we headed for Hasst river then onto Jackson bay to sample the crayfish at the famous Craypot. Bloody place should be called the empty Cray pot, havnt had any for some weeks. We settled for some fish and chips which were pretty good, but it just wasnt the same. At least the veiw was nice.

 
From there it was over the amazing Haast pass with Sam making me stop at every water fall and pretty spot along the way to take pics. She took over 300 today alone , but I cant blame her the scenery was spectacular.

The road was also brilliant except for steel grates crossing the road (sometimes mid corner)and the crazy german tourits driving campervans on the wrong side of the road and failing to give way on the single lane bridges. I was shitting bricks at one stage.

The walk down to the Blue pools was like walking through an enchanted forest, complete with witchy poo.We stopped at the  pools for a while where the water is crystal clear. You can even see the huge trout swimming around in some of the holes.

Sam decided a swim was in order, but she had forgotten her cossie. Heres a pic.

Then through some more postcard scenery on the way into Wanaka.

In the beautiful lakeside Wanaka, Karen found us a hotel, we had a huge dinner ( i'm gonna need draino run through my ateries to clean them when I get home) and a few beers at the beerhouse then bedtime after a huge day.

Cheers till tomorrow.

  

Comments

[Buzz]

How are the tyres holding up?
The south Island is just spectacular.

[Glen]

Guy is going to roll off the plane when he gets home he's eaten that much

[danandrox]

please sort your camera out ....one photy was all black

[RR]

I'm glad that you are experiencing typical West Coast weather where it rains 300 days a year and rainfall is measured in metres. I would have been real po'd to thing that you were there spending my money in brilliant sunshine.

P.S. I will echo that "get your camera fixed" post. One photo really is all black. :-)

[Guy]

yeah not sre what happened there, perhaps the flash is broken :-)

RR actually the weather has been fantastic, just shitty that one day we wanted to up in the helicopter. :-(

[Guy]

They are going to be trashed by the time we get to Christchurch, so will the brake pads. Damn these roads are fun but :-)