Day 17: Visit the Fox and Wanaka Glacier in New Zealand. Ship Creek: Dune Lake Walk, Thunder Creek Falls, Fantail Falls, Haast Pass, Blue Pools, Lake Hawea, Wanaka
Visit the Fox Glacier It is our goal today, before moving to Wanaka and having enjoyed yesterday a unique visit to Franz Josef Glacier and Matheson Lake in the afternoon, where we enjoy views and an unforgettable sunset.
With this idea in mind and after verifying that the weather forecast is quite good, we started the route of the trip to New Zealand in 36 days when it is 8 am, leaving the Fox Holiday Top campsite, our accommodation at Fox Glacier where we spent the night.
It does not take more than 10 minutes to travel the section that takes us to the first of the Fox Glacier viewpoints, which unfortunately is closed for restoration (you can see it on the map as "Fox Glacier Access"), deciding at that time that the best is Continue another kilometer and go to the next viewpoint, where after traveling one of the most impressive sections of the New Zealand by motorhome, we leave our Jucy motorhome in the parking lot.
Remember that if you are interested in making a route through New Zealand by motorhome, we recommend you look at the Motorhome Republic page where you can see all the available motorhome options, prices and make the reservation directly.
Fox Glacier Road
Once here we have to travel a 30-minute round trip to get to the views of the final viewpoint of the Fox Glacier, which has taken us along one of the most beautiful trails we have done these days and that show us the little reason They had all those who had told us that this visit was not worth it, since only by the way, surrounded by vegetation, it is worth every minute.
Fox Glacier Trail
Visit the Fox Glacier
Smaller and also quieter than its neighbor Franz Josef, both the town and the glacier, are essential places to see in New Zealand, which we recommend not to miss.
Although there are different trails, of different duration and difficulty, in our case we have opted for the 20-minute River Walk Lookout Track, which runs through a really impressive forest, with the final gift of sublime views of the glacier.
Fox Glacier viewpoint
Helicopter on the Fox Glacier
Although we did not do it due to the instability of the weather and bad forecasts, making a helicopter flight through the Fox Glacier, as we said yesterday in the Franz Josef Glacier, is one of the most demanded activities in this area of New Zealand .
If you are interested in doing this activity, it is important to monitor the weather and if you travel in the middle or high season, have an advance reservation to avoid running out of seats.
- Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers Helicopter Flight & Snow Landing
- Fox Glacier: Panoramic helicopter flight with snow landing
After half an hour doing this trail and enjoying the last views of the Fox glacier, we return to the road heading to the next point today that is Ship Creek, located just an hour from Fox Glacier, where we make a 30-minute trail, the Dune Lake Walk, which leads us to enjoy another landscape in New Zeeland, such as the dunes located next to the forest.
Dune Lake Walk
We do 15-20 minutes of the trail and the truth is that although the first part is fine since it has views of the beach, we do not believe that the place justifies a stop or deviate from your route, unless you want to stretch your legs, since that besides not being anything Awesome, is a real nest of sandflies.
After this technical stop, which helps us to walk for a while and have a coffee, it is 11 in the morning when we return to the road to travel the almost 100 kilometers that separate us from the Haast Gorge road, where we want to make some stops
Haast Gorge Road
Although the Maori were the first who traveled this area of New Zealand, it was not until 1655 that the SH6 was opened, the road that crosses the Haast Gorge along 150 kilometers, in a journey of almost three hours, which runs partly by the Mt. Aspiring National Park.
Although you can make the journey without stopping, we advise you to take it easy since in addition to being quite narrow, the road passes through incredible landscapes, something that makes it one of the most scenic locations in the country, often dotted with waterfalls, which you We advise not to lose you.
Haast Gorge Road
Thunder Greek Falls
This 96-meter waterfall is one that you cannot miss in the Haast Gorge. Easily accessible, the trail does not have more than 200 meters, the visit lasts about 15 minutes with photo stops.
Thunder Greek Falls
Fantail falls
Only 5 kilometers from the above are 23-meter waterfalls, which are accessed through a very short path of about 200 meters.
Fantail falls
Blue pools
Only 12 kilometers from the last waterfalls and 8 kilometers from Makaroa, in the opposite direction, is this point that is probably the most famous and visited of the Haast Gorge Road.
Known for both its location and its incredible blue waters, you will be able to access the Blue Pools after making a path of 1 kilometer and a half and approximately 1 hour round trip, through a beech forest.
Blue Pools Trail
After traveling this path, you will reach a suspension bridge that crosses the Makaroa River, after which there is an incredible platform, from where you will have the widest perspective of the Blue Pools.
Blue pools
Remember that despite not already being on the West Coast of New Zealand, the sandflies are still present (and much), so it is important to wear repellent and long sleeves and long pants to avoid annoying bites.
Blue pools
It is 2:30 in the afternoon when we finish the route today through the Fox Glacier and the Haast Road setting the way to our base for the next two days, which is none other than the famous town of Wanaka located only 70 kilometers from where we are and an hour's journey.
Do not forget that in this section of the route you will pass by Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, two of the most impressive places in the country, which we are sure, will not disappoint you.
Hawea Lake and Wanaka Lake
15 kilometers from Wanaka is this impressive lake, with grayish blue waters and 35 kilometers, which is separated from Lake Wanaka by a small space of land, known as The Neck.
Although most travelers make this journey only amazed by the views through the windows of the vehicle, we advise you to take these kilometers in peace, making several stops at one of the viewpoints. If you are lucky and the day is clear in addition to the incredible color of the water, you can see how the mountains are reflected in the waters, making this lake a real spectacle for the senses.
Hawea Lake
After several stops, which we use to stretch our legs and have a coffee in front of one of the most beautiful environments in New Zealand, we arrive in Wanaka when it is about 4 in the afternoon, to go directly to the Wanaka Lakeview Holiday Park, the accommodation in Wanaka where we will stay the next two nights that we will dedicate to know this beautiful and famous enclave.
Landscapes Lake Hawea
Wanaka, one of the best cities in New Zealand
Known for something as incredible as a tree, this town clearly competes with Queenstown, fighting for the title of best city in New Zealand. Although we have to recognize this adjective, it is very subjective, after much thought, Wanaka probably wins the battle.
If we only look at the landscapes that surround it, the truth is that in both cases they are spectacular with lakes and mountains of dreams. Although the real difference probably comes when we value something as important as tranquility and tourism.
In this case, Wanaka is much more relaxed, allowing you to enjoy relaxed walks and all the infrastructure with relative tranquility, despite being one of the most visited places in the country.
Wanaka
After leaving the motorhome and taking into account the proximity of everything, we approach the main street to take a walk around the area and then walk the walk along the lake, approaching the famous Wanaka tree.
Wanaka tree
Semi submerged in Lake Wanaka, this lonely willow tree began to grow 80 years ago in an incredibly beautiful environment to become one of the symbols of New Zealand and today, one of the most visited places by travelers from around the world.
Wanaka tree
Although we have to confess that in some moments, after seeing photos and reading about the place, we do not understand the reasons for that attraction, we have not needed more than a few minutes to get completely trapped by The tree and surrender to him for more than two hours, sitting in front of him, watching the passing of the minutes change the sky and the environment in such a surprising and inspiring way.
Wanaka tree
In case you can spend a night in Wanaka, we recommend you not to miss the sunset and the moment of the blue hour, especially if you are lucky enough to coincide with a full moon day, since you can have a unique view of the moon reflecting in the lake.
Sunset over the Wanaka Tree
Dusk in Wanaka
And so, when it is 9 pm and after a few unique moments in front of the impressive Wanaka tree, we approach Francesca's, an Italian restaurant highly recommended in the city, where we ordered a couple of pizzas plus beer and water for 63NZD that We have to confess, they know us to glory.
Francesca's
We leave you the map of the route today that has led us to enjoy the impressive Fox Glacier, Ship Creek, to make a stretch of the Dune Lake Walk, Thunder Creek Falls, Fantail Falls, Haast Pass, Blue Pools, Lake Hawea and finally arrive to Wanaka, where we will sleep.
Day 18: Trekking Roys Peak in Wanaka
