West Coast - glacier and helicopter flight

On our way to Greymouth, we stopped at New Zealands longest suspension bridge, the Buller Gorge Swingbridge. Of course, we had to cross it and already on the other side, went for a walk there. It was nice, the bridge was funny – just on a side note, flip flops are not the best shoes to go there – and we had some nice view, but it was not something really special. Greymouth itself is also not very interesting, it just had a good location on our travel route for a nights stop. The Hostel was very comfortable and we went a bit shopping in the city. And it was nice in exchange to the landscapes, which we still prefer. Close by are the Pancake rocks, which we definitely wanted to see. These are rocks, that look like stapled pancakes. We went for a walk there and also saw the many images that you can imagine in the rock formations. And the blowholes– meaning the holes, where the water comes out like fountains, when crashing against the rocks or the subterranean caves – were also impressive and almost constantly created rainbows over the rock formations.

The next day, we headed more to the south, until we noticed after 20 kilometres that we had forgotten almost all our stuff at the hostel. So, we had to return to get it. When, we started for the second time, by boyfriend noticed that exactly today ad now there was a Stockcar Dirt race in Greymouth that he wanted to see. Maybe, he had planned all that to end the way he wanted? I will never know, but definitely just make plans with me would have been enough. Of course, we went there and also stayed there for the next hours. At least the way back had not been completely in vain. It was fun to watch, but after some hours, I got bored and went to the car to read on its top and enjoy the sun. This night, we luckily found a camping ground without the horrible sand flies and actually slept very well.

On the following day, we headed to the glacier region. First, we stopped at the village Franz Josef, which has the same name as the glacier and both of them are named by Haast – which on the other hand gave name to another village close by - after the former king of Austria. Then, we continued to the village Fox, again same name as the glacier. We ended that day in the Whirlpool and were looking forward to the next day. 

We had had luck and found a discount on a helicopter flight above the two glaciers and the highest mountain in the South Island, which is the Mount Cook, with a landing on exactly that mountain. When they told us that we couldn’t go because of the weather, we should still wait some hours but don’t have to big hopes, I was really sad. The happiness was the bigger, when we finally got the confirmation for the flight. Above the clouds the weather is always good, they told is, it’s just a question of getting up there. It was a truly amazing experience. When we started, I was a bit afraid, because the sky was so dark, the wind so strong and it was raining. But, when we flew along the mountains and got closer to the glaciers, I got excited. And when we finally rose above the clouds, we were all astonished by the beauty. We could see very far, the snow-covered mountains beneath us and the sun shining bright! The snow landing on the Mount Cook made the day perfect. It was the first real snow in New Zealand for us and it made the landscape look so magical. We had fantastic views and the guide explained us all the mountains during the flight, but with all the white, I completely lost my orientation. And the warm sunshine made everything even better, we didn’t want to return to the bad weather “down there”. Actually, I almost forgot to tell you that these mountains -the Southern Alps- have also been film location to the Lord of the Rings. One time for the crossing of the Caradhras and the other time is the aerial view of the scene in the lightening of the beacons. And it really looked the same, just during the day. Such a magical feeling, I could almost hear Saruman chanting his spells.

Still the same day, we did a small stop at the Lake Matheson - which is a very beautiful place with good weather but as it wasn’t, it was just a normal lake. Normally, you can see the glaciers merrowing in the lake – some other viewing points and attractions on our way to Lake Wanaka. That day, we only reached the most norther part of the lake, which is huge, and stayed there on a lovely peninsula in the lake on a camp ground. Of course, my boyfriend wanted to go swimming, but immediately came back shivering. Even the shallow water with ice cold from the continuous wind, which stops the sun from heating the water. I had told him before, but he knew it better.

On the following morning, we couldn’t continue, because we fell in love with this place: the mountains, the lake, the colours, everything an absolute dream. When we continued to the village of Wanaka, that impression increased even more and we decided it was the most beautiful place where we had been in New Zealand until now. We went hiking in the mountains and arrived to a point, where we had an amazing view over the village and the lake. This would be a place, where I would like to live my last days.

Who will be surprised, if I tell you that also in this region, parts of the lord of the Rings have been shot? Hopefully no one. We all should know the country better by now. It has been scenic location for the long walk of the fellowship of the ring and the mountains of Mordor.

We continue our way to Queenstown, the city of adrenaline and crazy sports, so let’s see what will happen there.

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