Day 4: Punakaiki>Greymouth>Hokitika>Franz Josef>Fox Glacier

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Dec 30 2020

So lovely waking early to the sound of the waves and another clear day at McMillans Beach camp. Decided to brave an early brisk swim. We were super stoked to see last nights beach fires still smoking which bee tended back to light. Had a freezing cold plunge then built fire up to thaw out toes. Kids enjoyed having their cereal & milos next to the fire. Reflecting how some of the most simplistic things in life are often the best.

On the road smartly arriving in Greymouth for just a simple drive through (and quick pic of course). The onwards to Hokitika where we planned to break for lunch. Hoki was bright and sunny and popped into New World for some supplies. A stop next to Cass Sq for lunch - made wraps while the kids played in the park. Rasul will soon have grown out of park stops I thought in the next 1-2 years. Onward to Ross to empty our waste containers.

We landed in Franz Josef just on 5 and headed straight to the Glacier walk as we needed to cram a bit of sites in the next day or so between FJ & Fox. The Glacier walk was an easy 15-20 min gentle incline up a well kept track. The glacier comes into view on the RHS and is amazing. My OCD makes me feel a little disappointed that it looks dirty but I guess anything would when it’s 1000s of years old. Such a huge and awesome spectacle not only for its sheer size but reading also about its formation and history - particularly its strength and constant movement, up to a staggering 5 m per day! For anyone who may be doubtful of global warming, you just need to take a look at a glacier. The FJ used to go nearly to the coast, some 4km away. Even fathoming it was well and truly covering the carpark 100s of years ago is amazing. Since the earliest photos 1800s it has melted significantly, particularly since 1950s onwards. Our grandkids will be lucky to see it at all! I enjoyed reading the Maori legend about the princess and her beloved taking a walk in the mountains when her beloved slipped and fell into the waterfall she was so aggrieved she looked at the waterfall and froze it to immortalise her love ❤️

Onto Fox Glacier next so we could be up early to walk Lake Matheson and hopefully our heli ride leaving from there. Another Top 10. Lovely ground at the foot of mountains. So crazy and coincidental that one of Rocco’s schoolmates was staying there also (Ryder). Dinner was a bit delayed due to some changing around of our tour which took a while to sort. We eventually enjoyed a chicken curry rice & kachumber. Rocco was a champ doing the dishes.

Last thing we had the treat of a glow worm grotto right on our fence line. Not dark till 10ish meant a late walk through but so fun - a Burma type rope line to follow then a giant grid appeared that held the glow worms 🐛!

Night!

Leaving McMillans Beach, we loved it here !