New Zealand From The Glaciers To The Tasman Sea 29Dec22

We might've stayed one day too long in FJ (as we wanted to ensure a helo flight in clear skies) as our hike up to FJ Glacier was stopped a couple miles short of where I'd expected. DOC, NZ's Dept of Conservation, is like our National Pks Dept... they build, maintain, monitor the NPs and tracks. They've blocked the trail to FJ Glacier face 'cause 20 hikers were stranded on a washed out area of trail as the XX River had changed course and wiped out the trial, and they didn't head the warnings. Grrr. We took what trails and views were available and while it was cool, we needed more.

The hike was informative though and explained that with climate warming the glacier has receded significantly since 1970, from right at our vantage point to 2 miles up the valley. And another mile down near our parking area, the Defiance Cabin used to sit with keen access to the glacier and skiing.

Given the brevity of the FJ Glacier hike we chose something more for the 2nd hike today ~ and we headed to Okarito on the sea. There's a huge lagoon where fresh and salt water mix and it's a marine & bird preserve. It was a hot day but we hiked adjacent to the sanctuary and up the Trig track and then along the Okarito Track high above the sea on a cliff. These were solid hikes taking our total for NZ to 51 miles cumulative... and providing views at the end. The tracks through NZ jungle are beginning to seem very similar. It was super-hot and humid here.

After we were back down we headed out to the Okarito beach and encountered a half dozen surf fishermen with 14 foot spin rods using huge bounce rigs with squid bait 1' and 2' up the line from the bottom. They were fishing for shark and other local stuff probably just a mile from the marine preserve.

The drive back to Franz Joseph was as typical, on very windy roads; the narrow and ultra-windy NZ roads are a tough trip and often driving is without any decent sight distance. Concentration is maxed and I've never been able to use cruise control. Another fun NZ driving thing one lane bridges ~ they are everywhere and almost every bridge is one lane even long ones over big rivers. There's a right of way if both sides get to the starting point at the same time but sheesh... very strange.

We dined at a somewhat Asian place, Snakebite Brewery and enjoyed green curry duck and phat thai prawns with a couple of beers. Both it and Monsoon yesterday were better than the "#1 restaurant, Alice May," from the 1st night.

Back at the Oasis, we finally enjoyed their deck over a grass field. Fine for the company but meh. The hotel is actually nice but a little outside of Franz Joseph so we had to drive to dinner each night. NP. The hotel is actually for sale but I did not get a price for you Yoho.