Surely the Helicopters would be flying and we would get our long-awaited flight to the glacier and Mt Cook. After a hasty breakfast in the site restaurant, (yes we treated ourselves for once)
it was a fast walk to the Helicopter Line desk in town to try and book our place. But It was not to be, still to much low cloud along the flight route for visibility and safety.
Before leaving Franz Josef we popped into the i site to book the trip to Doubtful Sound. The tour starts from Te Anau and involves taking a coach, followed by a short boat ride and a coach again before boarding the vessel to take us on the sightseeing tour. There was a special deal of 20% off the lowest fare so we booked the glowworms for the next day too.
It became a very expensive 'pop in' as we also came away having booked the ferry for Stewart Island and a 90 minute trip around the island by coach but we managed another 20% savings on that tour too. Hmm,, 4 tours booked in one foul sweep has somewhat depleted the bank balance but I'm sure it will be worth it. Another snippet of information came to us and not one I wanted to hear, Milford and Doubtful Sounds have more rainfall in one year than in any place in New Zealand so raincoats at the ready methinks!
Talking of rain it was relentless all day. Started not long after leaving Franz Josef and the road to Fox was a nightmare to drive. Plenty of 'slip' evidence, road repairs and a few hold-ups.
So much water made for swollen rivers and so many Waterfalls to admire cascading from the ranges.
Being us, of course, we stopped to look at every one. I even risked life and limb at a one-lane bridge to get the photo I wanted. Thank goodness for the quiet New Zealand roads.
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| The walk toRoaring Billy Falls |
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| Top from L to R, Roaring Swine Creek, Orman Falls, Roaring Billy Falls and Bottom from L to R. Thunder Creek Falls, Wills River and Fantail Falls. |
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| Strange mist or could it be sand blowing across the lake |
A Boundary Creek DOC site was seen right by the lakeside, and a decision made there and then,
we were going to stay the night. Only $16 for the night with proper loo's and even toilet paper, it was a real bargain.
And seen on route
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| No idea how this happened but we stopped to see if we could help. They were convinced the green rope would pull them out. We were not so sure! |
2 comments:
The good news about rain in Milford Sound is it keeps most of the billions of sandflies at bay. If it's sunny buy a head net or plenty of insect repellent!
We were warned about the sand flies today Tom. I have the Jungle spray already packed in the rucksack.
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