The west coast road vanishes into the small Franz Josef village. The adventurer-wannabes seeking for glaciar expeditions gather in this place. The ideal spot to familiarize oneself with the pleasures of the ice activities. But, living close to the Alps, walking on the glacier doesn't tempt us and the prohibitive rate backs our choice up. However, we go to the bottom of the glacier treading on a small marked-out path.
We carry on a stroll around the Matheson lake. When the weather is fine, we can enjoy the relection of the mount Cook. We need a lot of imagination to make it out behind the thick veil of clouds. However, the walk is nice.
Our last stroll of the day drops us off in a viewpoint which overlooks the Fox glacier. A crystalized blue sea which races down the gentle and rocky slopes of the hill.
Keyword - at the kiwis country -
Saturday 10 November 2007
The Franz Josef and Fox glaciers
By dorian on Saturday 10 November 2007, 19:31 - RTW-New Zealand
Friday 9 November 2007
Alongside the west coast of the Southern Island
By dorian on Friday 9 November 2007, 19:24 - RTW-New Zealand
A long journey by car that leads us from the Abel Tasman national park in the northwest of the Southern Island to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers in the center-west.
We drive along the coast and often stop to breathe deeply the invigorating sea air.
In the late afternoon, we arrive in the Franz Josef village where we spend the night.
Thursday 8 November 2007
The forgotten beaches of Abel Tasman park
By dorian on Thursday 8 November 2007, 19:10 - RTW-New Zealand
A fun way of moving was developped at the entrance of the Abel Tasman national park. In order to reach different areas in the park, there are the aqua-taxis. We hop on one of them, the drive changes into a tractor's user for some minutes et leads us to the water access. He unties the boat and meet us again on board.
The journey is punctuated with explanations on the park and its animals. Dolphins and blue penguins swim around the boat while seals lounge about on wet rocks. How could it be better to start ? Our looks run along the numerous deserted beaches which dot the coast and promise some great hours of walk.
2 hours by boat and here we are at Totaranui where we load our bags and begin the trek. The path is perfectly marked-out and offers incredible vistas on these ochre-sanded beaches swept by an endemic-blue sea.
We leave the path to walk on a beach before dipping again into the maze of the welcoming nature. The scrubby ferns overlook us while the crescent-shaped beaches wander within the depths of the coastal path. A lot of visitors prefered the kayak as a way of discovery. As for us, we must wait for the low tide to carry on our trip. Everyone takes off his shoes, and carrying them in the hand, we cross this bit of wet sand the ocean offers us for a few hours before taking back possession of its land. The path isn't difficult, however we take a large number of breaks - mainly when the path fades into a pristine, beautiful beach.
We put up the tent in a reserved campsite. The tide begins to rise and changes our resting area into an isolated peninsula that only a few birds and the faraway waves surround with a soft melody.
The next day in the morning, the rucksacks packed up, we start again rubbing our soles into these idyllic scenery. The time slides and the pictures impregnate our mind. A genuine kindness. Maybe, we'll never come back here and we enjoy these moments as if they were unique. And, if we had to live them again, we'd tell us the same things but this time we'd swap our shoes for a pair of paddles and a kayak.
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