Blogs from Haast, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Geo: -43.8811, 169.042We couldn't resist one more walk out on our beach in Hokatika - our little cabin had a direct route straight out. How tempting all those smooth rocks and bits of driftwood were! And the weather looked great.So, off we went inland for about 30 mins to the Hokatika Gorge - we were the first and only ones there for a while, absorbing the beauty and sounds of all the birds. Then south to Franz Josef Glacier. What was surprising was how seldom we were along the coast, AND how little we climbed. But what views over my left shoulder!! Count your lucky stars that we didn't upload all the shots@ Got to the village of Franz Josef - a typical ski town, lots of coffee shops and gear shops, and where to go ... read more

Arrived Jackson after a fantastic ride down from Franz Josef glazier where I had camped the night before. Had good weather on the way down and super roads too. Stopped at Haast Settlement for supplies where I chatted to a couple from England also on a BMW. Riding through the Haast region, I get a strong sense of entering a primeval land, and a feeling of total isolation, or maybe its the freedom and the adventure of it all. Leaving Haast Township with new supplies I head south following the coastal plain towards the he remote fishing village of Jackson Bay, where 50km later the long West Coast Road finally ends. Of course as soon as I get going it starts to rain, but I push on thinking it won't last, I pass the camping ground ... read more