Week 3: Feb 3-Feb 9
Week three was BUSY and a lot of moving around. We left Nelson and headed for the West Coast. True to its’ reputation, the coast was very wet, and very wild and I loved the famed Highway 6 drive. Meandering on curvy inclines and declines sandwiched between the rugged coastline and the densely forested “lushness”, we drove for miles. Punakaki was the overnight stop and a quick hike to tourist favorite Pancake Rocks was just enough for us. The even shorter hike to a stunning private beach was the hit of the day. Up and out early after pancakes ( of course), we headed to Okarito Lagoon to camp with the Southwicks. This was a gem we didn’t have in our plans, but a charming camping and kayaking spot….not to mention the best NZ sunset thus far. After kayaking, we headed to the Franz and Fox glaciers and hiked to the viewpoint of the Franz Josef glacier. Gray and ominous, I could feel the thundering power of water. After a night in Franz Josef, we had a stormy and wet drive inland to Wanaka. Wanaka would be our base to prepare for our first hut experience at Aspiring hut. Fantastic Airbnb and off to Mt Aspiring early. We drove an hour to the trailhead and hiked 2 1/2 hours to the hut. Easy hike but we tramped through lots of mud, boggy muck, stream crossings and plenty of sheep poo. The hut expierence was great. Sharing bunk rooms with 12 other people and cooking space with 20 or more is always…….an experience. Met some great folks, gleaned a lot of good NZ travel planning info and day hiked our butts off. I got my exercise trying to outwit the sand flies. Bon: 1 Sand Flies: 0. Hut experience was great preparation for the upcoming Kepler Track( one of the Great Walks in NZ.)
Places:
Fri: Punakaki Beach
SA: Okarito
Su: Franz Josef
M: Wanaka
T/W: Aspiring Hut
Th: Wanaka
Accommodations:
Feb 3. Fri: West Coast, Punakaki beach hostel
Feb 4: Okarito lagoon and campground
Feb 5: Franz Josef Backpacker
Feb 6: Wanaka Airbnb
Feb 7: Aspiring Hut
Feb 8: Aspiring Hut
Activities: Fri: Drive to Punakaki, Hike to Pancake Rocks and blowhole, hike to spectacular beach with waterfall
SA: Camping with Southwicks
Su: Kayak in Okarito lagoon/ hike to glacier viewpoint(Franz Josef)
M: Drive to Wanaka T: Hike to Aspiring Hut (2/12hrs). W: day hike up the Matukituki Valley ( 5 hrs ) Th: Hike out ( 2 hrs)
Reasons why I still ❤️❤️❤️New Zealand:
Free WiFi booths everywhere that give us the fastest internet in NZ. Came with our phone SIM cards. Super convenient, easy to find.
Accommodates and facilitates travelers like no other country. Makes everything EZ.
-
West Coastline overlook 
Pancake Rocks and Blowhole in Punakaki 
Driftwood Art Display for a mile up the beach. Artists could only use driftwood and any thing else that the tide rolled in. Amazing. (Sun dial) 
Driftwood art. 
Ball of fire on Okarito beach 
Quiet sunset enjoyed by a few. Peaceful, calm sea rolling out. 
Afterglow on a driftwood strewn beach. Start your rock collection here. 
A very rainy hike through the bush and along the river. Umbrella hiking because it was just too beautiful to skip. 
Rock and climbing in the bush? Of course! 
Waterfalls dripping, spewing and falling everywhere below the Franz Josef glacier. 
Franz Josef glacier viewpoint. Stark and gray. 
Kayaking in the Okarito lagoon. Weaving in and out of diverse landscapes. Peaceful exercise! -
Common kitchen space at Aspiring Hut. Use your sharing skills here. 
Shared eating space at the hut. Cushions by the window for overflow packers. All bunks are taken! 
Day hike from the hut. Matukituki valley 
Snow capped peaks… just a little too far for us.? Onward……….
