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Detailed travelogue on Australia and New Zealand
Detailed Travelogue on Australia and New Zealand
Larry2006-05-27 03:23:16
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it that, is the
working of greenstone (jade) and all the shops in the area have jade for
sale in their windows.
I grabbed a late dinner at a coffee shop on the main street, and actually
sat outside, it was so nice. It was past 8:00pm, but was still as sunny as
a 4:00pm afternoon in Los Angeles. Waiting for that dinner reminded me that
unless you're ordering fast-food or pre-made food, meals are not exactly
served with speed in New Zealand. After a while, I moved inside, and a good
20-30 minutes after I ordered just eggs and toast, it finally came, even
though there were only a few other people in the restaurant.
Though I spent only a short evening in town, I really liked Hokitika, and
it's a good place for anyone planning on visiting the glaciers to stay.
THE GLACIERS
There are two large glaciers on New Zealand's south island: Franz Josef
Glacier, and Fox Glacier. They're relatively close to each other -- only
about 30 minutes apart by car -- and unlike most glaciers in the world which
are retreating, both glaciers here are advancing.
The road through the area is narrow and steep, and there are plenty of
hairpin curves. Just for the stretch between the two glaciers themselves,
you must first go up, then down the mountain three times. Unlike similar
mountain roads in the U.S., there are no mirrors on the curves, and you must
constantly be alert for those drivers who play fast and loose with the
concept of staying in their lane (not to mention the odd large tour bus or
three). Forget about passing on this road too -- there are no passing
lanes, and very few chances to pass. Still, the road cuts through plenty of
beautiful scenery, and that day, I wound up seeing it three times.
The night before, at Teichelmann's, I was flipping through a brochure of
various tours available at the glaciers.
...
See photographs from:
Australia Gallery
,
New Zealand Gallery
