Our Motel had a very comfy bed, which was just as well, as we had not realised that we were also opposite a railway terminus until just after midnight, when many of the trains hooked up their cargo and set off. What a noise! Still, once they were gone we soon went back off to sleep, lulled by the sound of rain falling on the roof.
In the morning the sun was shining but the air was really cold. After breakfast we headed up the road to the Information Centre where our hike began. The hike was set to take 6 hours. After half an hour on the trail, we realised it was going to be too hard. It was like rock climbing, with very poor track conditions and difficult terrain. We came back down and found two other Arthur Pass hikes. Just before leaving the car park, we were surrounded by ten large local parrotts. They immediately began to peck at the car windscreen.
In the morning the sun was shining but the air was really cold. After breakfast we headed up the road to the Information Centre where our hike began. The hike was set to take 6 hours. After half an hour on the trail, we realised it was going to be too hard. It was like rock climbing, with very poor track conditions and difficult terrain. We came back down and found two other Arthur Pass hikes. Just before leaving the car park, we were surrounded by ten large local parrotts. They immediately began to peck at the car windscreen.
The frist hike took us to the Devils Punchbowl waterfalls. The hike was just an hour each way. The waterfall was very impressive, fueled by yesterdays heavy rains. The wind was whipping up the spray and we got very wet, trying to photograph the falls.
Once back from the falls we took another hike, The Bridal Veil Track. What a great walk it was. The rain drops were still sitting in the trees and the sun brought the forest to life.
We walked up small streams crossing beautiful fast flowing streams. After two hours we were back at the car park. A twenty minute ride took us to the Temple Basin Track which takes you up to The Temple Ski Area.
The hike was quite steep, it felt like we were walking up a winter ski track. It took an hour and a half to reach the empty ski resort buildings where we were joined by two Kea’s. These very impressive parrots are only found in the mountains of the South Island in NZ. They are about a foot tall, very inquisitive and very friendly.
The hike was quite steep, it felt like we were walking up a winter ski track. It took an hour and a half to reach the empty ski resort buildings where we were joined by two Kea’s. These very impressive parrots are only found in the mountains of the South Island in NZ. They are about a foot tall, very inquisitive and very friendly.
Fiona and l explored the basin and then returned to the sun terrace of the ski Bar ate lunch and sun bathed with the parrots. As long as we were out of the wind, it was quite warm. If your interested in finding out more about this area, see http://www.apinfo.co.nz/ . As we climbed down the clouds moved back in. We were hoping to get some good photo’s of Mount Rolleston but the clouds had other ideas.
We arrived back at the car park for just after 2pm. We began our drive to Fox Glacier, for tomorrows helicopter hiking on the Glacier. As we drove to Fox, the clouds thickened up, making the mountains look very uninviting.
We drove through Franz Josef, stopped for some shopping and arrived at Fox for just after 6pm.
We checked in and relaxed after our days hiking and driving. The hiking is fine, it’s the driving that’s tiring.
