The West Coast and Glacier Country
The West Coast still feels like a pioneer frontier, and extending from Karamea and Westport in the north, to Haast in the south. Gold, coal and timber were the main reasons the original settlers came to this narrow strip of land between the Tasman Sea and the Southern Alps. Rusting relics tell their own tales of these hardy endeavours by the locals who are called ‘coasters’ and have a reputation for friendliness and hospitality. They also have a quirky sense of humour – evident in the annual Wild Food Festival where they delight in creepy crawly cuisine! To get a real taste of the place, its well worth taking time out for a yarn with a ‘coaster’ in one of the pubs over a cold beer. Physically, this is a ruggedly beautiful place known for its rivers and rainforests, glaciers and geological treasures. A high rainfall means its dense, vigorous beech forest quickly reclaims cleared land. There’s plenty of wildly unique landscape to explore and photograph.
The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are probably the most accessible in the world. You can literally drive to their ‘terminal’ and then walk up to them! Originating during the last Ice Age some 20,000 years ago, they once reached right out into the sea, being pushed by the vast snowfields of the Southern Alps. They are still not far from the sea, and their mammoth journey can be seen in the steep valley sides bearing gigantic horizontal scars from the glaciers advancing and retreating over the millennia. Their sheer enormity is humbling – and the ‘blue ice’ formations found on their upper reaches are incredibly beautiful. To explore properly, a professional guide is highly recommended, leading a journey on to the ice – or helicopters and ski planes can take you up to where the glaciers begin.
Highlights:
· See the blowholes and rock formations at the Pancake Rocks
· Explore the arts and crafts of Hokitika
· Try black water rafting in the Charleston Caves near Westport
· Take a helicopter of ski plane flight up on to the glaciers
· Join a guided walk onto Fox or Franz Josef Glaciers
· Take a walk around the beautifully reflective Lake Matheson
· Learn to Ice Climb!
