West Glacier Motels

... spectacular country to drive through. We did encounter the Red Bus fleet which runs open top tours during the summer months throughout Glacier National Park. Built by the White Motor Company in the 30's they have had a serious makeover and now motor along ...

... my way back along the footpath I marvelled at how the sea is not 25km away, and here amongst a native rainforest there is a glacier! How unique! I also pondered how relatively sad it is that all this lovely forest is only home to birds and some fish in ...

... and again our enjoyment was enhanced by having the place to ourselves.   Our next destination was the Franz Josef glacier, which is apparently a little larger than the Fox.  However shortly after we began the drive from the Fox Glacier, the ...

... up the gorge the next day and then a short drive over to another beautiful and quiet camp ground called Pioneer Park. We were heading west now to have a look at the blue lakes at Tepako. We checked into a very busy campsite right on the shore at Lake ...

... generous portions of marinated lamb shanks. Even without our adrenalin rush we went to sleep happy. June 1 ====== Queenstown --> Fox Glacier We woke to a chilly morning in Queenstown but of course you must have a tramp before breakfast . . . so ...

So, 60 odd k later, I arrive in Haast. Quite a metropolis compared to the townships I've passed on the way - two motels, a gas station, a cafe and a visitors centre - wow!! Yet again, the scenery was wonderful getting here, even though the hills were a ...

... Chrome messenger bag, and put everything in a rental backpack. 1:30 PM - We arrived via bus and 10 min ride, to Franz Joseph Glacier, then tramp (hike) through about 1-2 miles of woods and rocky river bed- about 1 hour. Once we get to the base of the ...

... vicious eradication campaign. The road is pretty quiet in the night, DP less so. Tuesday 19 February Pleasant Flat - Franz Josef Glacier Do the short bushwalk around the back of the camping area before heading off. Stop at The Roaring Billy carpark, ...

... . His body was never recovered. But given the average flow rate of 1mtr a day his body should surface very soon. The Fox Glacier growth/receading pattern over the previous years is: - Growing at 1 mtr a day for the past year. - Receding since 1998 ...

... .  This is a park that is made to hike and unfortunately we were not able to do it this trip.  Entering Glacier from the west you drive by Lake McDonald which is 10 miles long and 470 feet deep.  We drove through Glacier on the "Road ...

... a highlight of the trip! That evening we hungrily ate dinner before heading out to the towns hot pools (FREE with the glacier walk tickets!) woop! beautiful, steamy pools surrounded by palm trees, ferns and lots of other trees, all disguising the other ...

... from Missoula but, in spite of the forecast, it looked like it was going to be a nice day so I decided to visit Glacier National Park instead.  I drove in the Going-to-the-Sun Road, stopping at a few turnouts and taking some pictures around Lake ...

... a place for the night was more important right now.  So I left.  I eventually headed out of the park and into West Glacier (the town).  Of course, this being July, everything was booked up for motels all around Glacier.  That's ok, it ...

... the meadows singing "Sound of Music." She declined. Olympic National Park has it all. Less than 15 miles beyond the glacier covered mountain peaks, as the hawks fly, lay the unique Hoh Rain Forest. The forest lies along the Pacific coastline where I ...

... ... 6. The TranzAlpine Train Ride from Christchurch to Greymouth (it was a nice change of pace and quite scenic) 7. Hiking Fox Glacier with Kayla 8. The Plateau Restaurant in Fox Glacier 9. Jet Boating on the Dart River 10. Spa break in Queenstown ...

... between the facilities at a "backpacker hostel" and those at a "holiday park" (which caters more to campers).  The motels at Fox Glacier were overpriced (and full) so we decided to try the local holiday park.  The owner offered up a six-bed ...

... and then through the Southern Alps to Wanaka. Beverley and I took a helicopter flight over the glaciers, including Mount Tasman Glacier and then had views of Mount Cook. Seeing the features of glaciation that I learned about at school was fascinating and ...

... last days  before SF(San-Francisco). Maripoza, west Yosemite, is a better village to stay in: there are many motels and it is located closer to the 3 west-east roads. However, the roads in the park are so nice, it is not a waste to drive there 1-2 ...

The South Island of New Zealand has two glaciers which are accessible from the West Coast - one at Fox Glacier & one at Franz Josef. For no particular reason I decided to visit the latter. The Franz Josef resort is tiny (2 streets) & driven ...