We left Wanaka in the late afternoon and stopped to stay at a Motorhome Park in Makarora just before going up the Southern Alps. We awoke early and began the drive to Haast and the West Coast on our way to Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. We stopped a few times to take small walks/hikes to waterfalls, crystal pools, and through the rainforest. One of our favorites was the "Blue Pools" which had a stream and pools with some of the clearest, bluest water we had ever seen.
The rocks along the riverbed were full of color and variety.
Short rainforest walks to waterfalls.
One of the many waterfalls we walked to.
Nash, leading the pack through the rainforest.
Daddy, carrying Zander on one of the trails.
Sawyer and Zander running along the trail.
The "Blue Pools" between Wanaka and Haast.
Our version of the pancake rocks.
We arrived early afternoon to Fox Glacier. The weather was overcast and it was fairly chilly outside. Cody decided to take a plunge in the icy glacier waters of Fox Glacier.
A mixture of rocks and ice running off from Fox Glacier.
Cody, getting swept away by the rapids at Fox Glacier.
An amazing blend of blue glacier water with green moss from the rainforest makes for amazing colors in the lakes at the bottom of the glacier.
We left Fox Glacier after Cody had his plunge in the icy water and we were off to Franz Josef Glacier, which we had heard was the better of the two glaciers. We decided to take a hike up to the base of the glacier, and we enjoyed amazing scenery, dozens of waterfalls, and a blend of rainforest and glacial ice. It was amazing.
Some of the scenery along the 2 hour hike we took to the base of Franz Josef Glacier.
Our destination, Franz Josef Glacier.
Ryder and Nash were hiking buddies.
Daddy, with Zander and Nash on the mossy green rocks along the path.
Family picture at the base of Franz Josef Glacier.
Ryder, playing in the rocks.
Nash, playing in the rocks.
Some of the scenery around Haast, after leaving the Southern Alps and beginning the drive along the West Coast.
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