From Hokitika via Fox Glasier to Cardrona

This afternoon we arrived in Cardrona, but about that later.

We started of on the SH6 again in the direction of both glaciers, Frans Jozef and Fox. Not far to go, only 155km. We stopped already after 30 km in Ross. An old goldminer village and the old hotel intact. The Empire Hotel from 1866. Really fun with the old saloon still there. We made a walk for about an hour along the old mining system from and past the old cemetery. People did not become old!

Before the glacier villages we came to a place called Whataroa. We only thought to take our lunch there, but it was also the starting point for Glacier Country Scenic Flights. Actually Lonely Planet had recommended them above the others. We had a nice talk with the guys and ended up doing a tour with them. A fantastic and amazing experience. 35 minutes and a landing on the glacier! Something we never had done before.
When we came to Franz Jozef and did the walk to the glacier it was actually annoying with all the noise from the choppers. The walk to the glacier is maybe disappointing in many ways since you walk trough a very stony area. It looks more like a dried out river. You come til about 750 m were the glacier stops. This was a walk from about 1 1/2 hour.
Franz Josef was a busy village with a lot of youngsters. Fox, about 23 km further on, was more quiet. Here we stayed in Lake Matheson Motel. A nice surprise. A big room, kitchen in a corner and an okay bathroom. The lady at the reception advised us to go to Mathewson Café 5 km onwards on the road. From there we had a beautiful view on Mt Tasman and the cafe offered terrific food! The next morning we returned because if you are lucky you can see the reflection of the mountain in the lake. A beautiful walk to the lake, but unfortunately no reflection.

We took a look to the Fox Glacier from a lookout point and continued on our way to the south. Til now we said something about the weather every day but we have decided not to say anything more til it changes. The last few days we had temperatures up to 27 degrees. Full summer!

The west coast is full of variation and not cultivated. Especially the last part to Haast. You get a warning that is is impossible to fuel for 90 km and the same over the Haast-pass. We stopped before Haast at the Curly Tree White Bait Compagny and an old shed not far from the road. The man made us a nice sandwich with the whitebait and egg. Whitebait is a small fish from 3 til 4 centimetres and transparent. You eat the whole fish.

From Haast to Wanaka land inwards is it about 145 km and you pass by one village called Makarora with 40 inhabitants. Arriving in Wanaka it feels as very crowded. We continued to Cardrona were we are going to stay for 3 nights. And it started raining!