Franz and Okarito

The same story with the helicopters so off to Franz Joseph to try our luck after breakfast in the cafe attached to Fox Glacier guiding.
No luck at Franz Joseph either so we walked up the base of the glacier, through the tree fern humid forest and up the barren glaciated valley to a high point to see the massive energy of the glacier. The crevasses   and rivers were so big and impressive, you couldn't help feeling insignificant.

After a long lunch we drove out to the coast to a hideaway called Okarito. The beach was being whipped by the waves and the spray. We didn't linger long before we sought refuge in the only cafe available. A shed at the kayak adventure company which was being run by a young expat English lad, who married a local because of her carrot cake?!?
We of course had to taste it.
Margie spotted a Pashmina in the eclectic collection of goods he had for sale. Photography book from a local NZ chap, old prints of glacier hiking victorian ladies and gents, who went under the ice caverns. (Brave or foolhardy, I'll let you make your mind up.)
A very pleasant interlude, we headed back for dinner in a Polynesian restaurant, perhaps not my favourite of the holiday, but they were lovely people and the 2 As enjoyed their dinners.
Before we headed back to the campsite we went for a short daunder along the Glow worm light path. Luckily the possum escaped the entrance to the path before we entered it. I hate to think of the washing if it hadn't.

As aye

XS.