Views of the glaciers

We woke to a beautiful, still morning.  Our Airbnb host had provided four free range eggs and Simon turned them into a delicious omelette using some of the mushrooms and tomato we had set aside from the night before.

We returned to Orakito to do the 4.2km return Trig walk, confident that the views would be worthwhile.  A boardwalk took us across the wetlands and then we walked up well-graded track.  It was easy walking and it was less than half an hour to the top. 

The views were amazing! We had a full panorama of the Tasman Sea, Orakito lagoon and the snow-capped southern ranges, including Mt Cook that had been shrouded in cloud so often before.

We stopped for a coffee back at the lagoon which was busy with kayakers and a busload of tourists who transferred onto a boat to explore the lagoon.    

It was time to head to the glaciers whilst the visibility remained good.  First stop was the Franz Josef Glacier walk - a 15 minute walk to a view point some 2km from the face of the glacier, which has receded significantly in recent years.  On the way back we detoured via Sentinel Rock which had a board showing the receding views of the glacier, including a forecast image for 2100 - which looked remarkably similar to the current view.  

We continued on to Peters Pool, a small kettle lake formed by melting ice, which had lovely reflections of the glacier.  The trail joined the Douglas Walk which took us to the suspension bridge at the start of the  Roberts Point Track and then looped back to the car park.

It was definitely time for lunch so we returned to town. The Landing Restaurant and Bar had been really busy when we had driven past earlier, so that seemed a good option.  We both enjoyed our burgers and felt we had earned them after a morning of multiple walks.

A quick stop at the supermarket for provisions and we headed onto the Fox Glacier walk, hoping to beat the clouds that were now drifting down the mountains.  It was an easy walk along the south bank of the turbulent Fox River, which was a milky grey colour.  We passed some warm springs that were indeed warm - but very shallow.  

About 30 minutes in we had our first view of the glacier and it was lovely and clear.  We continued on past an old car park and then downhill through a rainforest to the final view point and more stunning views with the glacier some 500 metres away - much closer than Franz Josef.

Back at the car, we headed to our accommodation for the next two nights in Fox Glacier, Misty Peaks cottage - a very small, utilitarian cabin, with not even enough room for towel racks, though a reasonable kitchen area.  

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