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| Wild and
rugged is a coastline feature of the of much of the North and South Islands;
northern Westland is no exception especially along the stretch of highway
between Westport and Greymouth near the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, part of the
Paparoa National Park. |
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| Nikau palm
trees are prolific from Punakaiki north yet absent from most of the rest of
the South Island. From our coastal homestay a tangerine sun sets below the
Tasman Sea off the West Coast. |
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| Sheltered
river valleys provide ideal conditions for kayaking and self-guided walks.
South of Greymouth we visit "Shantytown" for a ride through dense rainforest
on the vintage steam engine "Kaitangata with gold panning on the return.
One-way bridges are the norm on the West Coast of the South Island and
require special care when approaching especially those shared by the
railway as well. Hokitika is a compulsory stop for supplies, local arts and
crafts, gold, Pounamu/Greentstone/Nephtite Jade before continuing south to
more remote settlements such as Hari Hari, Whataroa, Franz Josef
Glacier, Fox Glacier and Haast. |
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| Truly remote
and beautiful landscapes, high mountains, rainforest, wild glacial fed
rivers and numerous small lakes. Pockets of farmland in the major ancient
glacial valleys surrounded by wilderness. |
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| For a truly
remote rainforest wilderness experience we visit the White Heron Sanctuary
near Whataroa - seasonal October/November to February, by special permit
only, and out of season still well worth visiting for the grandeur of the
scenery. |
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| For alpine
climbing, tramping, trekking, hiking in the rainforest (known as "bush")
or at higher altitudes above the bushline plenty of fitness is just one
of the ingredients required; equally important is an understanding of the
weather conditions and terrain. Local guides are available for the those
with experience, stamina and adequate equipment. Rapid, frequent and
dramatic changes in weather are normal in this region of astronomical
rainfall. When conditions allow a scenic helicopter flight from Franz Josef
or Fox Glacier Villages is a quick and easy way of appreciating the grand
scale of the ice-fields and glaciers of the Southern Alps. |
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| Congested
highways aren't too much of a problem in South Westland, nor crowded lakes,
rivers or beaches for that matter; just thousands of square kilometres of
wilderness until eventually we turn inland up the mighty Haast river valley.
To the south the Haast river borders another wilderness area, Mount
Aspiring National Park which in turn borders the greater Fiordland
National Park which extends to the very bottom of the South Island. Fiordland National
Park alone is one of the worlds largest National Parks and collectively with
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, Westland National Park and Mount Aspiring
National Park forms a UNESCO designated World Heritage Area. From the summit
of Haast Pass we quickly descend into the Otago region and soon a very
different landscape and climate. |
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