Today was a driving day…both driving a car and in the driving rain. I can’t really complain, I have had amazing weather up to this point. However, it did prevent one of my really big activities that of doing a fly over to Milford Sound and a short trip out to the Tasman Sea through the sound. However, I was dreading the combination of doing that trip in addition to the LONG drive to Greymouth area, as I knew it was through country which was hilly on twisty-turny roads, and I figured that some of that time might be in the dark. Not that I couldn’t have done it, but it was nice not to have to have done it. The rain was pretty constant and the clouds hung low, so I wasn’t able to see much of the high peaks…though they did peek out every now and then through the mist…it was quite dramatic and made for a beautiful drive. I took a little time to hike out to see Franz Joseph glacier along with a stop in Hokitika. Once again, I had a hard time not stopping every minute or so to take a picture, but it was an amazing drive through rainforest with glimpses of a turbulent sea interspersed with mountains spouting waterfalls large and small…truly magical. New Zealand does not disappoint, rather she offers up such a wide variety of landscapes in such a small space, it is absolutely enchanting.
Lake Hawea Region
Mount Aspiring National Park...Couldn't see Mt. Aspiring though, at least I don't think I did.
The West Coast
Franz Joseph Glacier
You can just barely see the tip of the Glacier in the very back of the canyon
Cool local sculpture in Hokitika
Hard to not stop and take pix of every single beautiful sight, I'm sure! Thx for the lovely pix -- Alan especially enjoys the flowers, of course, and he's JUST sure you snapped those just for HIM!
ReplyDeleteI did! i have more to show him, but definitely thinking of him each time I take flower pictures :)
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