Tuesday - planes and jet boats

Another day for spectacular NZ scenery. After a disturbed night (first time we've had noisy neighbours in a DOC campsite) we had a leisurely start to the day, with bacon, black pudding and egg sandwiches for breakfast. We reckoned we might need our strength today.

Then it was a 15 minute drive up the road to Makaroa airstrip and the Siberian Experience.

The airstrip is tiny, just a small area of grass next to the main road, where a Cessna 185 and a helicopter take off for flights into Mount Aspiring National Park. We boarded the Cessna and took off for the Siberian valley, via a tour round the general area.

The plane flew close to some of the highest mountains, and over glaciers.

This was Lake Crucible, a geography lesson in a glacial lake.

A glaciated valley, perfect.

 

 

 

 

This is Siberia valley, and the thin stripe in the centre of the picture is our landing strip. Our pilot had to do two sharp turns to get us into the valley, but as we were the fifth flight in that morning he obviously knew what he was doing.

And here we are getting out. There were four passengers on the flight, the other two were joining the rest of their party for a longer trek, so we set off on the track on our own.

First job was to wade the river to the other side. We had brought water shoes with us in preparation for this, and a towel. Half way across we realised our feet were going numb with the cold.

 

 

 

 

This was the view back towards the landing area. The first part of the walk followed the rIver quite closely, then we started to go up into the forest.

 

 

Occasional the drop of one side of the trail was quite steep, I had to get Mick to put his foot in the shot to show the scale!

 

 

We still got a view across the valley from time to time, but the ascent continued quite steeply.

 

 

Numerous small streams crossed our path, but as this was a DOC trail it was immaculately maintained, and there were stepping stones whenever they were needed.

 

 

Lunch was a sandwich and a cookie, watched by this little fellow.

 

 

Some times we could see the other side of the valley, and the myriad of waterfalls coming down the mountains.

 

 

At the end of the trail, after about 3 hours of walking, we were meet by a jet boat who gave us a thrilling ride back to the base.

It was a great trip, thank you to Derek and Hilary, and Pete and Barbara, who recommended it.

 

Reunited with our van, we had a quick ice cream, then set off north up the Haast road.

We did a short walk off the road to see the Blue Pools, at the confluence of the Blue river and the Makaroa river. They are extremely blue, but we failed to spot the trout that are said to often be seen there. We had seen some from the jet boat earlier though, and they were huge!

 

Our stop for the night is at a freedom site, just south of Haast Beach, on the shores of the Tasmin sea. Wonderful views, but over run with sand flies, the NZ version of the Canadian black fly. They are vicious biters, and geniuses at getting into places they are not wanted. We have been having a running battle with them since dinner, and I think they are winning, despite all our doors and windows being shut. It is a beautiful spot for our van though, and we have seen the sun set over the ocean!

 

 

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