After leaving our hotel at Hokitika (translates to return directly) we had a little time to spend in the town. Hokitika is well known for greenstone, known as pounamu. This is a highly valued stone found exclusively in the South Island, and is deeply significant to Maori culture, and is carved into tools and jewelry. Some of us visited a large store selling greenstone jewelry, merino knitwear, and lots other items to appeal to tourists. I purchased a couple of items for future gifts. We could look through the large windows into the workshop when the craftsmen were working on shaping the greenstone.
It was quite wet in Hokitika, no surprise really as the West Coast is well known for the heavy rainfall. This is caused by the Roaring Forties westerly winds bringing moisture from the Tasman Sea, where the clouds then travel up to the Southern Alps, and drop the moisture as rain, often as intense, short duration rainfall with some areas experiencing over 300mm in 24 hours. All this rainfall ensures that the West Coast native forests are lush and green.
Our coach traveled south, passing by Harihari. The claim to fame in this small settlement occurred in 1931 when Australian aviator Guy Menzies, piloting a single engine Avro Avian plane and ended upside down in a swamp, mistaking it for a grassy paddock. This landing spot is marked by a memorial, which Robin and I visited on a caravan trip several years several years ago.
Driving past Harihari
Lunch stop was at Franz Joseph, yes, it was still raining, and I joined several others going to try the recommended Seafood Chowder for lunch. Mmm, it certainly was delicious. While we were enjoying our lunch a group of others were off on their pre booked scenic helicopter and glacier landing trip. Not me, I wasn't brave enough, and I have been on a helicopter some years ago.
Back on the coach again, we drove down to the Franz Joseph glacier, named in 1865 by German explorer Julius von Haast in honour of the Emperor of Austria, to go on a short walk to the lookout. The glacier has been rapidly retreating since 2008 and people cannot now walk up to the terminal face due to safety concerns. We were lucky enough to have experienced a guided walk on the glacier, complete with crampons, some years ago, something that people cannot do these days. Sadly, my photos of Franz Joseph seem to have got lost. Our stay for the night was at a large local motel, which did not have a restaurant, so we were taken to a cafe along side pretty Lake Matheson for dinner that night, and the following morning for breakfast.
On the road again, the coach pulled into Bruce Bay, 40km south of Fox Glacier, for a photo stop and to stretch our legs. The rain had stopped, but the clouds were still rather ominous.
There was more excitement today for the 20 or so people who had booked the Haast River Safari. They were dropped off at the starting point and the coach continued on along Haast Pass. Then we traveled along to the pick up spot and waited for the boaters to return. They certainly had a great time, they said.
Here comes the River Safari
The coach pulled in to the Country Cafe at Makoroa, not a place I had stopped at before, just driven past, towing the caravan behind us. It reminded me of some of the Road House Cafes we stopped in, during a trip around the Ularu area in Australia. Our bus load of passengers stood in a line, selected our lunches, and found a table to sit down.
Country Cafe at Makoroa
The weather was certainly getting much brighter and we pulled in to see Lake Hawea. This beautiful lake is 35km long and is a popular spot for fishing, wind surfing and boating.
There was one last stop before we made it to Queenstown, to Jones Fruit Stall, just outside Cromwell. This place brought back memories, we had stopped here with the caravan on an earlier trip, to buy fresh fruit and a snow freeze fruit ice-cream. This shop also has a wonderful selection of dried fruit, I remembered, so came away clutching several bags of delights. No, I won't open them, I told myself, take them home and the fruit will be so tasty added to my home made muesli. The coach host had phoned through and there was a small tub of fruit ice-cream waiting for us all. Delicious, we sat on the picnic tables and ate our ice-creams with gusto!
Jones Fruit Stall, Cromwell
It had been a long day of driving, with the boat ride for those adventurous people as well. I was pleased to get into my hotel room in Queenstown, with the knowledge we would be staying two nights for a change. There was a lot planned in Queenstown during our stay. And just look at this lovely view of Lake Wakatipu out of my hotel bedroom.
View from my room at Queenstown
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