We had a relatively early start this morning, out the door before 8:30. We wanted to drive to the glacier since it was supposed to be clear in the morning. We were rewarded with beautiful views of Franz Josef Glacier.
First, at the parking lot - this is the hut that used to stand at Cape Defiance, a 3 hour hike from town. It was built in 1912 and moved down due to erosion as the glacier has retreated.
Tree ferns on the walk to the viewing place.
In 1908 the toe of the glacier came to where I'm standing (below).
We continued north east along the coast through more rainforest, with some sheep and dairy farms along the way. We stopped at a rest area/lookout with a monument to 19 miners lost in a 1967 coal mining disaster.
We can tell when we get close to the ocean because we can see the mist from the spray off in the distance.
We stopped in Hokitika for coffee and Greymouth for petrol. We got to the hotel fairly early and our room wasn't ready, so we drove into town to see what was what.
The view from the front steps of our hotel in Punakaiki.
They are called Pancake Rocks because they look like stacks of crepes.
The view from our room.
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