SWISSNESS goes GLOBAL: The West Coast

flying back to NZ after Thailand... Christchurch... bus to Wanaka...

08.03.2010

Cycling out of town and hiking up Mt.Roy do get some wonderful views over Lake Wanaka, Mt.Aspiring... Quite a workout after doing nothing at all for a whole month.

view over Lake Wanaka from Mt.Roy

09.03.2010 56km

Back on my beloved bicycle!!! Hawea River. Lake Hawea. Great, hot Otago weather. Magnificent surroundings. Nice undulating road. Staying at DOC campsite, meeting Israeli cyclist.

Lake Hawea

10.03.2010 50km

Up and over Haast Pass - great. From dry vegetation to rainforest! Staying at Pleasant Flat DOC campsite, as the Israeli cyclist. Meeting Czecho-American cyclist. The three of us ended up cycling all the way to Fox Glacier together.

11.03.2010 101km

Downriver towards Haast settlement. Stunning valley!!! A whole crowd of tractors on the road so made my day, I simply burst out laughing when there were still tractors coming up that road...forever;)

Haast River

Long lunch at Haast. Continuing along the West Coast. Having a quality coffe time - the Israeli way - at Knights Point. Nice campsite at Lake Paringa.

three cyclists enjoying Ship Creek

West Coast highway 6

12.03.2010 74km

Lake Paringa to Fox Glacier: remote West Coast, three tiny settlements consisting of 2 or 3 farms... Blackberry eating along the way! And my only views of the Alps whilst cycling along the West Coast.

eating blackberries along the road...

13.03.2010
Checking out Fox Glacier. Glowworm walk in the evening.

Fox Glacier

14.03.2010 55km
Cycling on my own again. Hills to Franz Josef, ignoring glacier there. Staying at campsite close to beach in Okarito - impressive sunset!

Okarito

Okarito #2

15.03.2010 76km

Another cloudy West Coast day. Close to the sea, but can't see it. Close to the mountains, but can't see it...

16.03.2010 100km

The town of Hokitikia felt like a culture shock after the remote Southern West Coast. Busy and touristy. Continuing to Greymouth where I stayed the night at a backpackers. On the day, I also enjoyed the ulimate cycling in downpouring rain experience;) (Up to then it had only rained at night.)

17.03.2010 48km

Amazingly breathtaking coastal road to Punakaiki! View of the snowcovered Alps in the distance! Checking out Pancake Rocks, polishing my bike;)

Greymouth to Punakaiki

Pancake Rocks!

18.03.2010 68km
Rattling bike freaking me out. Fixed it. Continued. Still a great road, nice scenery! Cycling to Carters Beach where I stayed at a friends friends place.