While we were super happy to have a clear view of the glacier (according to the park ranger, 10:30am is about the time clouds start to settle - another hiker we met at Christmas Lookout later reported the top was a whiteout), it was sad to imagine the 1.26 kilometers the glacier retreated just in the past decade! On top of that, a distinct departure from all our other walks in New Zealand, instead of having most pleasing birdsongs for the soundtrack, we had loud helicopter glacier tours - a most ironic undertaking.
One evening we went on the Terrace Track right at the edge of the village to see glowworms - think stationary fireflies that glow blue. We had been told about them since Tasmania. We finally spot them, but not enough for a photo.
There are countless one lane bridges in the South Island. Below, we are waiting for our turn on the Bus from Wanaka to Franz Josef.
The bus driver stopped at Lake Hawea, the 9th largest lake in NZ, for photos.
The bus route headed over to Haast on the west coast, then north to Franz Josef. Below is a shot out the window at Bruce Bay.
The next morning we got going early and hitched a ride for 3 kms to the trailhead. Conditions for glacier viewing were excellent as we saw the morning sun shining on the tops of the mountains.
The lower sections of the Alex Knob Trail are almost a paved road. Nice! Love the temperate rainforest.
Higher up, the trail is steep but recent volunteer work to construct stone steps and switch backs was nice.
In this shot you barely see the glacier (middle left), but it's a great view of the valley.
After lots of uphill, the Lata Lookout view was mostly clear.
And farther up at the Christmas Lookout, the views were superb.
On the walk down we enjoyed Wombat Lake (1st below), the ferns, trees, mosses, unknown red threads, and blue mushrooms!.
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