Franz Josef Glacier
It has been storming heavily all night and before we set off for Haast, we drive into the valley. As so often before, we are lucky and can walk up to the viewpoint and see the Franz Josef Glacier.
Fox Glacier
The journey continues on the HW6 and in Fox Glacier there is a beautiful viewpoint just outside, with a view into the valley with the Fox Glacier.
Haast
It's very well laid out, a few houses and motels, we were only there for one night and had a look at the kilometre-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 route. The pass itself is not very high at 562 metres, it follows the river bed for a long time and then climbs briefly.
The Neck
It is a rise between Lake Wãnaka and Lake Hãwea and offers a view of both lakes. Shortly afterwards we arrive in Wãnaka.
Wãnaka
The motel room is newly renovated and has good heating. Everyone in Wanaka is waiting for the snow that should be coming now, but we're glad it's not yet. The tree in the lake is the attraction here with a large car park. At the Italian restaurant with German service we have pizza from the wood-fired oven.
The South Island
It was great here on the South Island, we saw a lot: wonderful landscapes, mountains, glaciers, the metre-high fern trees, sea lions, kiwi's, lots of waterfalls, the sperm whales, our meeting with Kathy and Ian, mountain parrots, vines as far as the eye can see, jumping dusky dolphins, street art, rough seas with lighthouses, wonderful historic buildings, such as Dunedin railway station, the southernmost point of New Zealand, lots of sheep and even more sheep, oysters, beautiful bays, the sounds (like fjords in the north), an old steamship, an evening at the cinema and more burgers than we actually wanted. Now we're looking forward to the North Island. We drive back to Queenstown on Wednesday and then fly to Auckland.
