Travelling the wild West

 It seems like ages since I last wrote although it's not even a week ago; we've visited so many places and seen so many sights since then!
We started in Wellington and took the ferry across to Picton where we picked up the car and drove via the Abel Tasman to the West coast; so far we've travelled down to Franz Josef.
Wellington put on a real show for Mum and Dad, living up to it's name of 'Windy Wellington'; after the first day of sun, gale force winds and rain lashed against the windows of our YHA room. On arrival we drove up to the top of Mount Victoria, where we took the view across the city. I showed Mum and Dad around the university before going for a walk along the water front, followed by an Indian meal. Mum and Dad spent the Friday bobbing in and out of Te Papa, Wellington's famous museum, whilst I went up to the university. We then met in the evening for a yummy Thai meal. (Below is a photo of my home in Wellington).

On Saturday we set off from a slightly sunnier Wellington, and luckily a lot calmer, for our 3 hour ferry crossing to Picton in the South Island. We spent the day driving across to Motueka, just east of the Abel Tasman. Stopped off in Nelson to stock up on food; had to cram shopping bags into every last space in the car; you'd think we were off to Antarctica!
We spent the evening relaxing in the hostel; hopes of a stroll to the beach dashed by the lashing rain.

 Next morning the weather had improved considerably meaning we were able to catch a boat from Marahau to Anchorage, a bay on the Abel Tasman. From here we walked back along the Abel Tasman track, via multiple golden beaches and numerous beautiful viewing spots. From Marahau we then took a winding route through the soaring, bush covered mountains to Golden Bay hostel in Takaka; here we discovered a huge Countdown supermarket, rendering our big shop in Nelson a little pointless. 

 On Monday morning we set off in the sun for our 5 hour drive over to Hokitika on the West coast. We drove through stunning scenery, between mountains, along side the gushing Buller river then past the wild ocean on the West coast. We stopped off by a beach with huge, crashing waves for lunch then continued down the coast to the Pancake rocks and blow holes at Punakaiki. These rocks were amazing, with distinct, horizontal layers of limestone jutting out the ocean and funnelling the powerful waves to explode through the rocks. We were lucky as we happened to arrive at high tide when the blow holes are most impressive. After taking many photos and videos of the rocks and the water erupting from between them we got back on the road and drove to Hokitika, via Greymouth for yet more food.

When we got to our hostel in Hokitika we were met by a glum looking woman who informed us that she had accidentally given away our room so we would have to stay in the owners' house down the road with her. It wasn't the best of nights as we sat awkwardly eating our stir fry whilst she gnawed on her chicken in a very cluttered house. I guess at least it was memorable.
The next morning we were glad to get back on the road and move on to the hostel in Franz Josef. Unfortunately it was pouring with rain so the glacier wasn't very visible. We walked up to the end of the Franz Josef glacier anyway and the cloud lifted for a while so we got to see the blue ice. We just timed it wrong so on the way back we got soaked to the skin! It was nice to dry off in front of the fire in the cosy hostel with a good mug of Milo.

We were lucky on Wednesday morning; we woke up to clear blue skies so we drove across to Lake Matheson where the mountains are reflected in the water. Unfortunately it wasn't quite mirror like when we were there due to a slight breeze but it was beautiful none the less. After a relaxed coffee looking up at the snow capped mountains walked up to the end of Fox glacier just before the clouds came across and the rain started again. 

It was amazing gazing up at the huge mass of ice and seeing the crevasses and caves in it. markers showing where the ice used to come up to were  quite amazing; can't deny global warming when you see how far the glacier has retreated in just 50 years! We couldn't actually walk on to the glacier as it was too dangerous; we could see where land slips had happened on the walk up and whilst taking photos we saw a huge block of ice roll down into the valley.
It's been a wonderful week and we've seen such a range of scenery in such a small area and short time. I still can't believe how diverse New Zealand is.
Can't wait to explore the rest of the South Island with Mum and Dad and then my French friends.