CARAVAN CAPERS: AFTER THE CYCLONE – HAAST TO FRANZ JOSEF

Thursday, February 22, 2018

AFTER THE CYCLONE – HAAST TO FRANZ JOSEF

The evening of the cyclone, we braved the howling wind and lashing rain to go to the only pub in Haast, The Hard Antler and enjoyed a delicious meal of lamb shank with a pint of apple cider which had been preceded by two glasses of wine, I slept well through the cyclone. It wasn't that bad where we were but next morning we went into visitor centre to find out about the road north – it was closed! Next update at 12midday. There was debris on the road but luckily just as we were leaving the guy came on the radio and said its open!

As we drove northwards we saw the damage done, trees uprooted, debris at side of road, a barn collapsed and on the beaches, huge piles of driftwood.

Weather brightened and sun came out a bit as we stopped at Gillespies beach for lunch, a 20km drive up a rough road. Back then to see the famous Lake Matheson which, if the weather is right has a reflection of Mount Cook in it – not today sadly but the mountains were clearing and we saw Fox Glacier.

Got a lovely campsite at Lake Mapourila on a Conservation site and saw a stunning sunset and sunrise next day.

READY FOR THE CYCLONE

FOR ALL YOU WORKERS!

BRUCE BAY

ABOVE A CEMETERY

NOT WILD! DINNER ANYONE?

FOX GLACIER

SLEEPY SHAG

LAKE MATHESON

SADLY NO REFLECTION OF MOUNT COOK

AND THE SIGN TELLS YOU WHERE MOUNT COOK AND TASMAN SHOULD BE!

Drove to Franz Josef car park and did the hour and half walk up up the glacier floor to the glacier face. A stunningly clear day, so lucky again. We came back then did a “short” walk to Peters Pool but got wrong and found ourselves on a rough track doing a five hour hike, we turned round and came back!

Drove to Okatiro lagoon and wandered round the area and to the beach and had a wonderful icecream made individually from from frozen blueberries!

Back for the night to our campsite near the lake.