Arthur's Pass to Franz Josef Glacier to Picton

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I slept right through the alarm at 6am (yuck! This is a vacation right?!) but I was in the shower by about 6:20am. After some yoghurt and reheated pizza for breakfast (hey, it all the food groups right?) we packed up and headed out the door just before 7am. Outside we were greeted by a pair of Keas (mountain parrots). I took some pictures, but it was too dark for anything to turn out except their glowing eyes.

We drove west, towards the coast, as the day dawned crisp and clear. We saw some beautiful mountain peaks, tinted golded-pink as the sun rose. At Hokitika we turned south, following the coastline a bit before the roads became windy once again.

Around 10 am we arrived in the small tourist town of Franz Josef. Everywhere were signs advertising helihiking, helicopter tours and ski plane trips up to the glacier. We stopped at a tourist information center and got directions to the glacier parking lot. A short 5 minute drive later, we were walking up a steep trail to the Sentinal Lookout. There we had a spectacular view of the glacier as it came down from the mountain through a deep valley. Several boards described how the glacier was formed, and showed pictures of how it has looked over the last 100 years. The glacier has advanced and retreated many times.

After enjoying the glacier we stopped in town to book our ferry back to Wellington and to call ahead to reserve a room in Picton at Sequoia Lodge Backpackers. Then we were back on the road, heading North.

We stopped in Hokitika for a quick lunch at the Tin Roof Cafe, and then cut inland through the mountains for Picton. Enroute we found a sign warning of kiwis in the area!! We arrived in Picton a little before 7pm, checked in and then had dinner. I used the internet before we went to bed early - we needed to be up early to be at the ferry for 7am!

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Photos

Kea Birds - Mountain Parrots
Early morning in Arthur's Pass

Leaving Arthur's Pass
Driving west to the coast

Franz Josef Glacier
Eric and I in front of the glacier

Funny car in Franz Josef
...read the sign on the side - what a combo!!
(It says "souvlaki and laundromat"!!!)

Kiwi sign
Look out for the kiwis!!!