From Hokitika back to Christchurch

Hokitika was a revelation. I hadn’t intended staying here, thinking that Greymouth would have more choice; but there was an “iron man” competition taking place whilst we were there with the bike competition part of it taking the competitors back to Christchurch over Arthur’s Pass the day. So all accommodation was booked-up.
So, although the apartment we stayed in was not perhaps as good as some of the others we’d stayed in, the location on the beach, and the timing – just after the beach sculpture festival, more than made up for it. We were really surprised to see so much good arts and craft in the town which although a bit linear and built on a grid pattern, did have a charm all of its own, and the sea and sunset were magnificent.

NZ – Back to Christchurch at EveryTrail

Jenny volunteered to drive us back to Canterbury so I decided to snap away through the window of the car, capturing the traverse of the Southern Alps and the journey through Arthur’s Pass. It was really interesting seeing the lush forest vegetation give way to high cold vegetation and then to rain shadow and desert on the way down towards the Canterbury Plain.

So we completed our circle. We stopped once again in Darfield and arrived back in Christchurch in time for tea!

You can see the photos here, rather than as a slideshow.

Franz Josef Glacier & Hokitika

The highlight of the day was the flight in the helicopter which took me to the east side of Mount Cook where we landed on a snow field and then flew back. The video below is a record of the return trip.

With thanks to Tom Petty, who’s song just seemed to fit the pictures, and which also just happens to be one of my favourite tracks, here’s my first ever helicopter flight – awesome!

You can see just how good the weather was. Blue, blue skies following the awful day of rain the day before.

NZ – Franz Josef to Hokitika at EveryTrail

The map shows the places where I took photos from the helicopter and on our walk up to the snout of the glacier, as well as the route from Franz Josef Glacier Village to Hokitika.

We really were so fortunate. You may see from the photographs below that we walked up to the snout of the glacier after my flight. The weather had clouded over a little by then but the experience of being at the snout of an advancing glacier was amazing – yes advancing! Also the fastest moving glacier by virtue of it being the steepest glacier in the world as well {or so I was told}.

You can also see the photos here, rather than see them in a slideshow.

The drive up to Hokitika was largely uneventful. More road mending and more largely empty roads. Such a great place to drive! The evening in Hokitika saw us visit the supermarket, just before it was due to close, and for us to get stuff for an evening meal that we prepared in the apartment.