Wednesday, August 20th 2003 – Day 183
I got up at 7.00am and packed. I started off on my trip at 7.20am.
The jewel in the crown of New Zealand scenic wonders is the magnificent Lake Matheson, famous for its reflections of New Zealands highest peaks Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Just 10km from the Fox village on the Gillispies beach road. a tiny lake well protected from the wind. This means the waters are often incredibly still and they reflect the colour of the mountains so that in your photograph it’s difficult to tell the mountains from the reflection of the mountains. – The view is best at sunrise and sun set.
i asked the staff at the hostel about how much it would take. They said 30 minute cycle and 2 hours to do the circuit of the lake. That is why i left at 7.20am. There was no need. I nearly froze getting there. there was heavy frost on the road (it was below zero last night) and fog and mist. i have the walk to myself but it was tooe arly for good reflections of the mountains. It only took me 40 minutes to walk around the lake. it was dead easy. The cycle was also only 15 minutes althought its uphill on the way abck. i was back in the hostwel by 9.20am. Jsut as well as all the tour buses wwere arriving at the lake car park when i was leaving. I should have waited an hour and got good views.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier to Quennstown – New Zealand – Lake Matheson (20-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier to Queenstown – New Zealand – Lake Matheson (20-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier to Queenstown – New Zealand – Lake Matheson (20-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier to Queenstown – New Zealand – Lake Matheson (20-08-2003)
I had coffee and spoke to a lad from kinsale who I met yesterday. Like yesterday we had a good chat about Cork, Cork hurling and football and Australia. He had bought a car for 1400 NZD but had no licence. He was right to do so as I have not seen the police since I have been here. They keep a low profile.
Anyway the mini bus arrived on time. There were two girls from Cork City on it. The price was 50 NZD (only 2 NZD cheaper than Intercity). It was a beautiful drive throught the Haast valley.
We stopped a few times to collect people. We also stopped for a break at Thunder Creek Falls
A 2-minute walk (wheelchair access) for a view of a 28 metre waterfall.
Arriving at Haast, you are surrounded by a landscape of rainforest, wetlands, sand dunes and surf-pounded shingle beaches. This wilderness forms part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, so designated because South Westland and Fiordland have some of the most dramatic forest and mountain scenery and natural resources in the world.
The surrounding area has some well-developed walks including the Hapuka Estuary Walk, which leaves from the motor camp, and the Ship Creek Walk, starting half way along the road to Lake Moeraki. These walks and others cross the wild Haast coastal plain, where complex dune systems shelter tiny lakes and many fine stands of kahikatea, New Zealand’s tallest tree.
The coastal plain continues for some 50 km south to the remote fishing village of Jackson Bay, where the long West Coast Road finally ends. This former seal-hunting base, tucked in behind the sheltering Jackson Head, is one of the remotest places on the New Zealand roading system. It has the distinction of having a higher population of fur seals and penguins, than of humans.
There is a timeless, spiritual quality to South Westland. The booming Tasman Sea, deserted beaches, dense lowland rainforest and forbidding mountains are hauntingly beautiful.
Anyway the scenery was out of this world and there were snow covered mountains ina ll directions. Some roads were closed due to a snow fall alst night. Its winter sports time here at the moment.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier to Quennstown – New Zealand – Bus Trip – Thunder Creek Falls (20-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier to Quennstown – New Zealand – Bus Trip(20-08-2003)
We arrived in Queenstowna t 6.00pm. it was misting and dark and cold. Anyway the driver took us to wahtever hostel we wanted. I chose the THE BLACK SHEEP hostel.
I had a long shower and shave. I also did laundry. I went down down to eat (met a kiwi couple with Irish parents and we spoke of rugby and Ireland) and went ont he NET. The place where I ate was the The Pig & Whistle. An early night I think.
Foun two good Queenstown sites. One is here and the other and the better one (official tourist site) here.
Tomorow is a new day.