Day 32 Hokitika, Lake Mapounka and Franz Josef

Day 32 Hokitika, Lake Mapounka and Franz Josef

It was Christmas Eve – though it was difficult to tell here….We drove south through Greytown, the largest town in the area and across a shared rail and road bridge….Now this didn’t sound odd until we realised that the railway runs down the middle of the single track road right across the bridge – sharing the same space as the cars – not next to it, right along with it…..and we think level crossings are dangerous!  Just before the bride was also the strangest mailbox I’ve ever seen…it was made from a microwave oven….whatever…

It was quite a beautiful drive, the Southern Alps to our left, winding roads crossing rivers pastel blue with glacial ‘flower’ and chalky river beaches.  We went through Ross – the gold mining centre - and stopped for morning coffee at Hokitika – the greenstone centre, exploring the various shops and galleries.

We drove on, then, past the lagoon at Okarito – a wetlands conservation area – and the Kotuku (white heron) sanctuary to the edge of Lake Mapounka. It was a perfect day – 22 degrees and bright sunshine….we could see the Franz Josef glacier in the distance. We ate our lunch on the dock and then 3 of us went on a guided kayak tour around the lake

and into a creek that ran into the Kiwi reserve.  Kiwis are nocturnal, so there was no chance of seeing them…..but we did see a magnificent white heron….obviously an escapee from the sanctuary we had passed….  We also tried a bit of ‘bush tucker’ – a very peppery leaf that the Maori use as a seasoning in hangi cooking.  Our guide, Mike, was a Canadian….he wore a Santa hat and played the Michael Buble Christmas album in his van….so a little bit Christmassy…..

Kayaking here was a little different…..We wore ‘splash aprons’ for a start….so didn’t even get wet….and the kayaks have rudders that are worked with pedals.  Rob and I went in a 2-man kayak so he had to steer….not an easy task….and we had to work as a team, paddling at the same pace on the same sides.  Once we got the hang of it all, we did really well and 3 hours passed in a flash.  I have a feeling our arms will be aching tomorrow…

We met up with the rest of the group (who had hiked to a viewpoint to see the Franz Josef glacier) in Franz Josef town.  We had a coffee and explored the shops a bit more….Nicole had bought a Santa hat to match the other guides, so she drove us to our Christmas Eve lodgings beneath Fox Glacier with the beginnings of some Christmas cheer. Rob began whistling Christmas carols that didn’t go down as well…hopefully he can restrain himself slightly tomorrow on our Christmas day glacier hikes!