Jaypatrol

We say goodbye to Queenstown and begin the journey to Fox Glacier. Passing the picturesque Lake Hayes, an historical gold mining area where there are still the remnants of the homes from this era.

We finally arrive late in the afternoon. But we are given bad news that the helicopter flight we had counted on, may not happen because of bad weather conditions. This was be a big disappointment, as neither of us had ever been in a helicopter. So we decided to walk to the Glacier Terminal Face instead.
We arrived at the office of the tour group and were all fitted out with walking boots and parka’s in readiness for the big hike.
It was getting late in the day at 3pm when we left on the old bus that took us up to the terminal carpark, from where we were to start the walk.
We had 2 guides and they were very knowledgable about the area.
We slowly began the trek up the mountain to the Glacial Face.
When we arrived, just over an hour later, the sight was worth every ache and pain we experienced later in the night.

 

We lingered a while, breathing in the fresh air and the majestic Glacier. One of our guides scrambled down to the river that was coming out from under the glacier and brought back a huge block of ice from underneath. We all got to handle it and some of us even ate some of it as it is very thirsty work trekking uphill and over rocks and streams to get there.
All too soon, it was time to begin the journey back to the carpark, but the treats weren’t yet over.
Along the way we saw some wildflowers and the scenery looked so different going back, I guess because we not in such a hurry to go back as we were when we started out.
A few times we turned around and looked back at the glacier, as it could be seen for ages.
Along the track, Arthur found a pretty little bird that he took a photo of. We have no idea what it was. And when we got back to the carpark there were quite a few wild Kea feeding and fossicking for food. These birds look pretty ordinary on the ground, but when they lift their wings to fly, they present the viewer to their spectacular red under feathers.
We returned, weary but excited from the experience.

After a restless nights sleep, we packed our things again, leaving our bags outside our room as usual and headed to breakfast in the dining room.
We were half way through our breakfast, when we were given a message that if we still wanted to go on the helicopter, to be at the booking office in five minutes, ready to go!
This was an unexpected bonus.
So we left our unfinished breakfast and headed back to our room to collect the camera and video and headed out to register for our helicopter trip.

We had to go early, so that everyone who had booked the trip, could get a chance to go before the weather closed in again.
So, with the early start, we were on our way for our first helicopter ride.

The helicopter took us back up the valley where we had walked through the night before, to the Terminal Face and beyond.
We flew up over the top of the Glacier and up over the top of the snow covered mountain.
This was such an exciting trip and the views were so awesome!
The snow on the top of the mountain was so thick and it looked like whipped egg whites.
It was so white up there that I had trouble focusing the video as all I could see through the viewer was white. There were deep crevices that are over one hundred feet deep up there too.

The pilot circled around a few times before the bad weather started to move in. The clouds were moving fast and we had to leave the mountain top before we lost direction. It was interesting to see the top of the Glacial ice covered in snow.
We came back down over the glacier. The view above the Glacier was so fearful. But the colour and the views were breathtaking. The sun shining on the ice was an awesome sight.
We flew over the waterfall and then followed the river back down the valley.
The ride was over too soon and we were back at the helipad alighting the helicopter.
But the experience was such a memoriable one. We were so blessed, we got our wish after all.
By the time we got back to the Hotel it was time to board the coach again and continue on to our next destination.We journey on further through the mountains and on toward Franz Josef Glacier. It was so difficult to see this as the weather was the same as at Fox Glacier. The riverbed in this area is very wide. Gordon, our coach driver, was telling us that they are expecting a huge one hundred year flood this year, as it is long overdue. Most of the buildings have been moved to higher ground before it happens. All except one Motel that couldn’t be moved.

Further on our journey, we pass Lake Lanthe. This is such an awesome Lake. And to make it even more so, we were fortunate enough to be there when it was showing all its splendour with mirror images. Arthur was so excited, that he had to get a photo to prove that he had actually been there at this time. Such an awesome sight. Lake Lanthe mirroring the surrounding countryside and the sky.
This really made Arthur’s day!

Our next stop is at Greymouth.

We arrive at Greymouth for our Tranz Alpine Train Trip.
But before we catch the train, we have some time in Greymouth. As we drove into town, there was an unusual entrance to the wool shop.
We visit the Greenstone (Jade) factory for an informative tour. We were taught about the early days of processing the Jade, or Greenstone, as the Kiwi’s call it. This was very interesting and we were inthralled. We had the opportunity to browse the gift shop and purchase any of the jewellery. I purchased some earrings and a necklace, made from pink oyster shell and a greenstone necklace too.
We had lunch in Greymouth and Arthur got to try the whitebait pancake that Gordon, our coach driver, was always bragging about. He was not that impressed with it.
Gordon also told us to check out the unisex toilet before we left, so we dutifully did so. We opened the door to it and behind was a painted image of an embarrased lady and a smurking man doing their thing. Gordon told us that the man was a New Zealander and the woman was an Australian. Very amusing.

After sight-seeing the town, we head to the station to board the train for Christchurch. This is a long journey, passing picturesque countryside. Some of the deep gullies revealing long rivers flowing beneath us as we pass over the numerous bridges. A very long and tiring trip, but a very scenic one.
During the trip we had a chance to get to know some of the other passengers that we didn’t get a chance to talk to on the bus. We took photos of each other and Arthur took one photo that showed our reflections through the window as we went through a tunnel.
The train stopped for a while at Arthur’s Pass to allow us to get out and stretch our legs a bit and to allow more passengers to get on. This was an interesting stop. Not much could be seen from the station, but it certainly is a unique area.
We finally arrived back in Christchurch, weary and dusty from the smoke off the engine. But we thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.

After a well earned rest, it is time to say good-bye to our new-found friends. This is such a sad, but memoriable time.
Most of the tour group left the day before we did, to go home.
We were fortunate to have another day in Christchurch to just be a tourist and wander at our own leisure.
Waving good-bye to Nell as we walked to the bus stop, where we asked directions to catch a bus to the Catholic Church, where Arthur’s mother went to boarding school, till she left New Zealand as a young teenager, to came to Australia with her mother to live.
We took the correct bus, this was an electric bus, (interesting). The bus driver was very helpful and pointed us in the right direction. After getting off the bus, we had to walk about two blocks to get where we wanted to go.
We spent some time at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch. This was a time of reflection and prayer as we walked in the steps that Mum probably walked so many years before. We took many photos to take back and show mum and spoke to some people that were quietly cleaning the Church. We were fortunate enough to be there in the centenary year of the Church, as there were displays of early photos and a model of the original building. There was such an air of reverence here. Other than the re-enforcements built into the building, to strengthen it in case of earthquakes, the building was much the same as when mum went there.
We went outside to find the building where mum lived in during her time. A kindly gentleman showed us where it still stood, though no longer were boaders housed there. It was now used as a music school. Boarders ceased to be housed only four years ago. We were so happy that we finally found this church, as we couldn’t find it earlier in the tour when we stayed in Christchurch. So mission accomplished.


When we left the Church, we went back into the city to sightseer. After having lunch in the city square and watching, amusedly, the evangelist and the philosopher debating their views we wandered around checking out the various stalls in the square. There was a group of school students performing Maori songs. They were fundraising for an upcoming concert trip they had qualified for, but needed further funds for necessarities, such as meal monies etc.
Strolling around the city, we found the museum. We debated whether to go in or not, but where very pleased that we did. It was the best museum we have ever toured. It was so well presented and laid out. We enjoyed it immensely.
Whilst in the museum, we got a phone call from Helen and Toula. They were still back at the Hotel where we were staying and unsure how to fill in the time they had left. (They had an extra 2 days in Christchurch). We arranged to meet them back in the city square and spent the rest of the day with them.
They “shouted” us a ride on the Gondola, punting down the Avon river. This was such a beautiful end to our holiday. It was so peaceful and relaxing.


We found a lovely quiet hotel/restaurant for a lovely luncheon and a cooling drink, enjoyed with good company.
We sadly said our good-byes to both of them at the Pavillions Hotel before retiring early to bed, as we had a 4am start the next morning to leave for the airport for our journey back to Australia and home.Our Kirra tour of New Zealand, is one that we will never forget. We made many new friends and experienced the adventure of a very beautiful country.
Thank You New Zealand.