Kidscorner

Sunday 24 February 2008

West Coast

Wanaka Holiday (last Part) : The Westcoast

On the way back home we took the road over the Haast pass, West Coast and back over Athur's Pass. It takes a couple of hours longer but is really worthwhile. We had planned to stay overnight at the West Coast but Mayke didn't feel well and the kids were homesick to their friends (and electronics) . Therfore we will go back to the West Coast this year for a long weekend.

When you go through the Haast Pass the dry bare brown mountains start to change into nice green ones with beautiful tree ferns and patches of ancient rainforest. It rains most of the year but they closed the tap when we came through. It is subtropical on the West coast.

This tap was still open but very local

The road on the West Coat, goes along a rough beautiful coastal area with beaches. You can't swim there though and often can't reach it. The West Coast is up till Fox Glazier nearly completely deserted.

 
Fox glazier together with Franz Josef Glazier are relics of the last iceages. The terminal of Fox glazier, which you can see on the photo, is only 5 km from the same named town. It is a 13km long still moving glazier which is fed by 4 alpine glaziers. It flows almost to sealevel, which is unique.

17 comments:

  1. lovely pictures Marja.. the waterfall looks amazing

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  2. Beautiful pictures. Beautiful country.

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  3. Lovely scenery but - why can't you swim there?

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  4. What some gorgeous pictures. It reminds me (a little) of Wales where everything is very rugged and pretty wild.

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  5. The glacier is blue. Interesting. I wonder if others are too.

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  6. Thanks rambler and gypsy

    Too dangerous Dickiebo. Deep, stony, wild and deserted and bad weather often

    It is wild monique. It is a world heratige protected area with harly any people

    Interesting question and I found an interesting answer
    http://www.northstar.k12.ak.us/schools/joy/denali/OConnor/colorblue.html

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  7. The only reason I'd love to make a million from a book is so I could retire in such vistas. Sigh.

    I am new at blogging, but I am looking for seven people who are not sick with the flu to whom I must say you're tagged

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  8. very nice holiday...i am sad that it is time for you to conclude...i was living it with you..

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  9. Awww, haven't been to these places for so long. The pics take me back to fun times.

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  10. stunning.......stunning......it makes me want to hop on a plane and visit.

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  11. It really is such a stunning country!
    I would love to visit someday!!!!!!

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  12. I was at Fox Glacier but it was fogged in and we couldn't see a thing. Still I enjoyed the atmospheric experience.

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  13. Stunning and a true pity one can´t swim in those waters.

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  14. The images just get better and better. So lovely.

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  15. great pictures. Reminds me of our own vacation a few years ago. Maybe in the future we'll go again to NZ.

    greetings,

    marcel van de Kamp

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  16. Beautiful pictures; it looks so wonderful and the nature is so beautiful

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Thank you!!