New Year in Brisbane at Southbank and then jump on the plane and head over on new years day. Stuffed around in dunnedin and caught shuttles to Invercargill, stayed there for the night. Very nice there.
Dump of a backpackers, did actually every meet anyone - just found our own room with the key in the door, and left notes to organise storage and nobody was arround when we picked up our gear.
The Humpridge is a very new privately owned track and is much better set up than the DOC huts. All plates and cooking stuff is supplies so your pack is lighter and they also gave us free prridge!
The first day was along Blue Cliffs Beach, crossing a few swing bridges then heading into dense fragile rainforest on continuous boardwalk. After a few hours the boardwalks gives way to rough mud and roots as you climb 1000m up above the bush line to Okaka hut for the first night. We were misted in and it was only after tea that it lifted and we could see all the way to Stewart Island on one side and snow capped mountains on the other. A short side track goes around a few nice tarns.
Day two was down the actual humpridge and was pretty hard going. Eventually you get to the bottom and cross a few historic viaducts and follow an old tramline for several kms to get to Port Craig Village which was an old logging town. The warden gave us a tour of the remains and we sat on the beach for a while and watched dolphins
The third day we were rushing to connect to a shuttle which was then an hour late but the beachs on the way back were great.
Saw dolphin
Check out the Humpridge photos >>
Very windy day2
Luxmore caves
Sand flies
Swim in lake
Swing bridge
Hitche back
Check out the Kepler photos >>
Very nice hospitality at Jeanettes
Paddle milform. String winds
Sailed back
Dolphin pod
Seals
Short walks - waterfall
Check out the Milford photos >>
Key summit
Hodwen Hut
Mackenzie hut
Beutiful lake
side walk
Next walk to waterfall hut
side walk closed to avalanche conical hill
Water fall amazing
Went for swim
That night is rained lots!
Get a car
Gear is late so stay the extra night
Check out the Routeburn photos >>
Drove to fox.
As we approach the rivers start to become grey milky
Do a walk at france joseph
Do a little bridge swing and play with the ice boulder floating down the river
The terminus is not very visible. Do a little self guided tour past all the signs saying 'very dangerous!'
Do a walk at fox glacier. Same story with the cave not visible at all. A little disapointed at not seeing the ice cave at the mouth of the glacier. Apparently the ice cave collapses so freakently it is not visible for much of the time as the whole river may change course. Ice builds up and then bursts and can flatter a lot of ground with the chunks of ice in the water.
Jump into a copter and fly onto fox and do a walk! Very very cool! Wearing old style hobnail boots with crampons
Fly over ridges buckling as it flows over a rise in the valley
Waterfall running straight into the side of the glacier.
Ice caves etc
And Back home!
Got back an enjoyed the place a lot more than when I saw it the first time.
Has japanese but it was really stormy so didn't see much. Basically bludged around until it was time for the plane to go!
