Day 14 - Franz Josef to Wanaka

Left over kheema naan for breakfast and yesterday already feels like a dream. We left at 7:30 and headed on our way down South towards Wanaka. We crossed over the visible fault line between the Pacific plate and the Australasian plate, which stretched over mountain tops - pretty cool to see.

Then we passed into Fox township, which was built on the land cleared out during the goldrush. Relatively small but quite picturesque and lots of pretty houses - single storey of course, I think I've seen about 3 two-storey houses since we've been in New Zealand.

Then it was on to Lake Matheson for an hours walk, across a rope bridge, through giant ferns, past spider webs and up and down several hills to get a glimpse of the mount Cook and mount Tasman reflections.

And finally a fry up at the cafe to see us through the day ahead before driving round the corner to see the Fox glacier.

There's a third glacier we haven't seen yet called the Tasman glacier but we won't have a chance to explore that one. We also learned that the species of bird we have seen along the way today, has quite an interesting story of commitment. The female lays the eggs, then leaves the nest to find food. The male stays on the eggs until the female gets back. If the female does and doesn't return, the male will die still sitting on those eggs. Now that's commitment!

Then we found out why the 16 Maori tribes settled in New Zealand in the first place... Because the coastline they first saw is absolutely beautiful. 

Huge tall trees, a beautiful beach, the sun gleaming in the water - a welcome land after a treacherous trip across the Tasman sea. Fertile land rich with fresh water, trees and materials. Even the cows love taking in the scenery...

Then we stopped at Ships Creek, known by that name because a ship crashed off the coast of Australia and the wreckage ended up here, due to the power of the drift. Hence the impressive amount of driftwood on the beach. 

AND I saw a dolphin! So close to the beach, it was such good timing! 

(Screenshot from video camera)

We then passed through NZ's largest national park, over the Haast river which when dry, farmers use to drive their cattle inland. Although the river rises pretty fast, stretching bank to bank and putting the southern hemisphere's longest single lane bridge to good use. Farmers have to have good instinct with the weather though!

We continued into one of the most remote national Parks. It's so vast that the kiwis have rediscovered three birds that they thought to be extinct. Into the deep we go!!

We stopped briefly at a waterfall, bypassing the more beautiful fantail falls and then continued through the Haast pass, 568 metres above sea level.

Way back when the Maori people settled, 80% of the Haast past was covered by bush. By time Europeans came, the Maori had Burned most of the wood and therefore it had dropped to just 40% and the Haast eagle had died out. It was a struggle for the new settlers as everyone had to import all materials they needed but didn't have access to..from home. The pass has suffered many avalanches over the years and the huge boulders at the bottom show just how devastating they must have been to the landscape. 

(Those big rocks are the size of a car)

Then it was a quick stop at lake Hawea after we'd all just dropped into a deep sleep onboard the big green bus, for a beautiful panaramic landscape - don't mind waking up for this.

Finally, we arrived at Wanaka. A town set upon the lake, and possibly the largest population we've seen in a while. I love the town. Wish I could stick around until ski season! Plenty of rock climbs to do, parasailing - man I might just come back here. We caught the sunset over the lake before heading over to the cute Paradiso cinema to watch 'X&Y' curled up on their sofas, after a imaginary trip in a Moreis minor.

I'm doing a canyon swing tomorrow, so fingers crossed the ropes hold out!