Tiki Tour March 5-8

So after enjoying our glacier experiences it was time for a new challenge. We set out on a bit of a wilderness jont through Haast Pass, attempted to find some treks to do along the way. But a few had been rained out earlier in the season. So we stuck to the road and made good time down the west coast and across the mountains to the Wanaka/Queenstown Region.

We settled for a rest stop just past Lake Hawea in wonderful Wanaka. (Previous location of south island snowboarding back in August) Wanaka is lovely in summer, with it's pretty lake and willow trees and Puzzling World! We spent some time with the mind bending illusions and then tried our hand at the Giant Maze!

Then it is on to Queenstown, where we met an old friend Luke, his crazy flatties and had some serious good times in the adventure capital of New Zealand. All in all we spent 3 days enjoying the sights, the nightlife, and thinking about snowboarding then we swung into a canyon!!

With our time in the south island drawing to a close we said so long to Luke and friends and headed for the east coast once again, this time in the form of more rocks. Morekei Boulders. These giant spheres appear as though they have just come crawling out of the coastline! As the ocean erodes away at the land, the harder rock is left behind. Incredible!

Back to Aucks and back to work, but plenty more adventures to come, as the weather cools down.

Tiki Tour March 2-March 4

Onward down the west coast from Greymouth to Fox Glacier with a few pit stops in between. Beautiful drive through spectular mountain ranges, coastal villages, and rainforests!

Our first port of call was to the little town of Hokitika, home of the annual "Wild Food Festival" not until later in the year, but a happening little place none the less. Jade capital of the south island, there are plenty of greenstone's around. Great gift shops, and a place that makes fudge on a marble counter.

Then it was a little inland amongst the rainforest's were the possums run wild, we found a place called "The Bushman's Centre" It's basically a roadkill diner, complete with possum pie! All the stools & benches are covered in possum fur.

We then pushed the limits on the windy roads in order to make it to the glaciers before the last heli hikes of the day.... however the clouds settled in and we couldn't fly, so had to rebook for the following day. Stayed in Fox Glacier for 2 nights. Took in a couple of tramps to the glacier, and around the park, Lake Matheson, and a visit to Gillespie's Beach. Incredible scenery, with the mountains peaking out above the clouds. Helicopter ride was awesome, got to sit shot gun by the pilot, swing an axe and go sliding through the ice formations.