Franz Josef Glacier
There has been a heavy thunderstorm all night and before we make our way to Haast, we drive into the valley. As so often before, we are lucky and can walk up to the viewpoint and now also see the Franz Josef Glacier.
Fox Glacier
The drive continues on the HW6 and in Fox Glacier there is a nice viewpoint just outside, with a view into the valley with the Fox Glacier.
Haast
Is very clear, some houses and motels, we were only there one night and looked at the kilometer-long Jackson Bay.
From Haast to Wãnaka
On the way we looked at the two waterfalls and Tunder Creek Falls Fantails Falls, but there are countless others on the way. The pass itself is not very high at 562m, it goes along the riverbed for a long time and then climbs briefly.
The Neck
Is an elevation between Lake Wãnaka and Lake Hãwea and gives a view of both lakes. Shortly afterwards we arrive in Wãnaka.
Wãnaka
The motel room is freshly renovated and has good heating. In Wanaka everyone is waiting for the snow that should come now, we are glad that it is not yet ready. The tree in the lake is the attraction here with a large parking lot. At the Italian restaurant with German service there is pizza from the wood oven.
The South Island
It was great here on the South Island, we saw a lot: wonderful landscapes, mountains, glaciers, the meter-high fern trees, sea lions, kiwi’s, many waterfalls, the sperm whales, our encounter with Kathy and Ian, mountain parrots, vines as far as the eye can see, jumping Dusky dolphins, street art, rough seas with lighthouses, wonderful historical buildings, such as the train station of Dunedin, the southernmost point of New Zealand, many sheep and even more sheep, oysters, beautiful bays, the sounds (like fjords in the north), an old steamship, a movie night and more burgers than we actually wanted. Now we are looking forward to the North Island. We drive back to Queenstown on Wednesday and then fly to Auckland.