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West Coast
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South and west the temperature is really dropping, it's here that the tallest mountains are found and the glaciers. The ice melt that causes rivers to be created is apparently called a sound or a fiord which is why they have some beautiful places like Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. The only difference is that a fiord is open to the sea and a sound is not which in fact means that NZ had misnamed their sounds which are open to the sea!
Walked around Te Anau on a part of the Keppler trek which is one of the NZ "Great Walks" actually they are the same as any other walk just that they are maintained by the Department of Conservation. Stayed in the Luxmore hut on the aptly named Luxmore mountain, a peak of 1500m. The huts on the track must be booked ahead, they have a heater and bunks, but we prefer the European style where on arrival somebody is there to cook, hot water is available and even alcoholic drinks. NZ huts are more like mountain refuges, which should only be for taking cover from bad weather overnight.
Fox Glacier trekking up a glacier is something new for us with the crampons. The weather was fantastic so we saw all the different colours reflected in the ice. The guide chopped stairways as we went and almost took his foot off with the pick, using and ice pick is something pretty difficult if you want to make fast progress. Haast where we finally met the infamous sandflies which we can now attest are ferocious biting insects that leave a horrible itchy spot. Cannot believe how they survive year round, it must be horrible in the summer with people required to wear more insect repellent than sun lotion. Greymouth clearly pronounced as two distinct words and the town itself suits its name. The only notable thing here was the backpackers which gets the end of day gateaux from the local bakery, then gives them away free - yummy.
Many of the towns and villages have been left with/given their original Maori name which we think often sounds Japanese. The rule is that all letters are pronounced, something like Spanish so you have Hokatiki, Wanaka, Kaikoura and many more. Perhaps the polynesian language was close to Japanese 600 odd years ago. More thumbnails ...
Latest Comments (1)
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picture perfect (reply)
May 23, 2007 04:01 EST by damonjon
Wow again,
seems like all you have to do is point and click and you have a postcard photo. Pic axing up foxhill sounds like hard work...great workout eh...it being 26° here in Paris, it is tough to see you out there in the cold with all those clothes but those dramatic views are sooo worth it. met any hobbits yet?
-d
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