Monday, August 18th 2003 – Day 181
I thought the bus was leaving at 7.30am but when i got there at 7.15am. I rushed to pay for my ticket for the 10.5 hour journey (77 NZD). I thought about buying a bus pass, but it would work out dearer for the route I am taking. There was no need to hurry as the driver had Irish connections.
It funny with the bus drivers here. they all give a running commentary on the town you pass throught giving advice on attractions and local folklore. This guy was good though. He spoke on the loudspeaker for about 50% of the time. His name was Maurice and had been in ireland 5 years ago to trace his routes. He had been in Ballyporeen.
Anyway he gave a good history to the bus about the Irish who came in search of gold on the West Coast of the South Island. We saw some nice coastal scenery.
We stopped a few times for breaks and had 20 minutes at Punakaiki which is Situated half an just over a half hours drive north from Greymouth, or south from Westport. Punakaiki for most people makes for a good break to get some fresh air and walk out to the pancake rocks. I walked a five minute path to view the unusual pancake rock formations and the blowholes from which colunms of sea water can spray up in favourable sea conditions.
More information on national parks and these type attractions can be got from the Department of Conservation.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Nelson to Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Punakaiki (18-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Nelson to Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Punakaiki (18-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Nelson to Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Punakaiki (18-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Nelson to Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Punakaiki (18-08-2003)
The Department of Conservation is the central government organisation charged with conserving the natural and historic heritage of New Zealand on behalf of and for the benefit of present and future New Zealanders.
Its mission is “to conserve New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage for all to enjoy now and in the future”.
Anyway we got to Fox Glacier the last stop for the bus. There were five others getting off. Its a isolated area and this is a tiny village with a few shops and a few accommodation providers.
I had picked the Ivory Towers hostel from the guide and it was a good pick. its a mixture of bunks and non bunks. There were two others in the room. Price was 20 NZd per night. Its a very relaxed area and hostel. big kitchen and nice TV lounge with sofas. Lucky as histel was not that busy. They had over 120 videos to watch on demand. They even had free tea bags.
The staff were also very cool and relaxed. There dogs slept in front of the fire.
Fox Glacier is situated on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand .
If you are traveling a long way to get to New Zealand and consider New Zealand to be very remote, than Fox Glacier would almost be beyond comprehension. The nearest Supermarket is just 175 ks away in a delightful wee town called Hokitika.
Our main service town and local hospital is only a little further, this being Greymouth and would be just 210 ks.
We are approx 200 meters above sea level , and have a permanent snow field at 2300metres. The west coast is a very narrow strip of land squeezed between the Tasman ocean and the mighty SOUTHERN Alps. in the Glacier region the distance between Sea and Mountains is only 24 ks. From Fox village the Alps seem to go straight up to over 12,000 feet with Mt Cook and Tasman towering above the Fox valley.
Our Glacier is approximately 13ks long and is currently the biggest on the West Coast, of course it used to be bigger. Approx 250years ago it reached the sea , but due to Global warming , and the need for ice in our soft drinks it has shrunk , but believe me it is still plenty big enough. Anyway, all we need is more heavy snow to collect the basin at the top of the glaciers to move them forward once more.
It was 5.50pm and I rushed to book a glacier walk for tomorrow with Alpine guides. It was expensive at 75 NZD. There was nothing else to do so I went back to pack my lunch for tomorrow and eat something.
I settled down in the TV room to watch The Theory of Flight which was quite good. I had an early night.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Fox Glacier (18-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Fox Glacier (18-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Fox Glacier (18-08-2003)