North out of Haast

Chad Post:

During our planning I thought we would maybe make it up to Haast, maybe for two reasons:

1) No, because it was pretty far North
2) Yes, because it beach town after a cool drive

The failed trek the day before and bad weather in the fjordland area brought us to Haast real quick.  The town isn't much at all, but you are a short drive to the Tasman Sea.  Our Holiday Park was great. We had hot showers, a hot breakfast, and a really fat indoor/outdoor rooster for entertainment (he actually just hung out in the kitchen while we cooked our eggs).

We hit the road and went north along the coast.  First stopping for a an hour-long swamp walk.  Picture Florida in the mountains - without the gators, snakes, turtles, giant bugs or humidity....only trees and birds which was the goal of our photo shoot... Kristie managed to call in a big fat bird....she has been the bird whisperer...The swamp walk looped into a short beach walk.  The water was pretty cold, but I think I would have swam if it wasn't for the crazy rocks in the Ocean, still it was cool to touch the Tasman Sea.

Ironic tree pose

Kahikatea (white pine) is NZs tallest tree. A conifer, it has lineage back to the Jurassic period.

Looking for jade on the beach.

We headed north again and made several stops and met a man who gave me a couple of fishing hot spots.  We stopped at one and fished for a while....the water was crystal clear and fast. I ripped a steamer across the holes and pools for an hour but never got so much as a chase.  I did see one large fish. I was told it was a landlocked salmon, but it paid no attention to my fly.  So instead of wasting all day I picked some black raspberries from the bank and went back to find Kristie.

"Sweet as"

We traveled in the van some more, taking GoPro videos and admiring the country...what a beautiful and diverse landscape...after an hour and a half drive north of Haast we arrive in Glacier Country ...and of course the first quick trek to fox glacier is short and you guessed it...steep!!!