After three nights in Hokitika we pack up the car and aim for the town of Lake Hawea. The day is mostly overcast - what a difference from yesterday when we were flying. We were so lucky with the weather!
Our route is Highway 6 along and through the Southern Alps. We've picked out a few spots to stop along the way to break up the day. Our first stop is Okarito, a little less than two hours south. William turns off of the highway on the road to the beach town. It is supposed to have a pretty lagoon, some hiking and a cafe. When we arrive the cafe turns out to be part of the kayak rental place with a couple of picnic tables and the lagoon looks ok, but not special. Oh well, we just wasted 30-40 minutes.
Highway 6 takes us into the small town of Franz Joseph, and the starting point of trails to the Franz Joseph Glacier. It's overrun with tourists in hiking gear, but we stop at a cafe for coffee. We also fill up our gas tank which puts William more at ease (we can sometimes drive for 1-2 hours without seeing a gas station).
Highway 6 takes us into the small town of Franz Joseph, and the starting point of trails to the Franz Joseph Glacier. It's overrun with tourists in hiking gear, but we stop at a cafe for coffee. We also fill up our gas tank which puts William more at ease (we can sometimes drive for 1-2 hours without seeing a gas station).
Our next stop is Lake Mathison, near Fox Glacier. There is a 20-30 minute walk to the lake. On a clear, calm day you can capture a photograph of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman with them reflecting in the lake. The clouds part for a little while we are on our hike and we are able to capture the beautiful mountains, but by the time we arrive at the lake the clouds are back. While I am stubbornly taking photos anyway, William chats with a couple from Highland Park, Illinois. It really is a small world.
As we are driving along the coast we see a sign for Knights Point Lookout and can't resist. The parking lot and lookout are right next to the highway! It's a wonderful rocky coastline below with some stretches of sand below us. Out at the point some seals are sunning themselves on the sand. But in the 10 minutes we are out of the car the sand flies descend upon us. We brave the outdoors for a couple more minutes to put on our natural bug repellent, which helps significantly on future stops. It also makes our car smell like Lemon Pledge.
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