Okarito

1st February and a day that yielded to quite heavy rain and winds in the morning but it was time to move on towards Franz Josef. Before leaving we filled up with diesel in Hokitika  arriving at the pump in time to see a big rental motorhome being pushed off the forecourt as they put petrol in the tank instead of diesel! There was no way it was going to start - poor people.

Too wet to walk!

We might have done some short walks on the way down but weren't encouraged to do so by the rain so instead we just stopped for coffee in the lovely large DOC campsite by Lake Mihinapua, drove through Ross where we had done the Goldfields walk 6 years ago, and then had lunch by Lake Ianthe. Despite the rain the scenery was great with the bush and all the flowing water from the mountains, from little streams to wide rivers.

After passing the Whataroa golf club, which is right on the main road, and where we played and stayed 6 years ago, we turned off to the coastal Okarito wetlands with it's lagoons and plentiful birds and where there are a couple of good walks. After booking into the basic campground we set straight off to do the 3 mile pack track, a 3.5 hour return walk, so we could get to the beach and lagoon at the end before we would be cut off by the tide. 

Let's try this one today. 

It's described as an easy walk going over the lagoon boardwalk, then through coastal forest to climb over Kohuamarua Bluff so there is quite a bit of up and down. 

Wait for me!

When we arrived at the viewpoint before going down to the beach and lagoon we had a good view through the binoculars, managing to see one of the few remaining white herons which is what we had hoped to do. 

Looking out to 3 mile bay.

So that was great and meant that we could retrace our steps back to camp as, to be honest, I was feeling a bit knackered by then anyway! That night, with the cleared sky, the number and brightness of the stars was a truly awesome sight. Starry starry night for sure and worth not being able to sleep to watch them!

Are they whitebait?

The next day we set off in the same direction, over the same boardwalk, to climb up to the Okarito Trig (1.5 hours return) from where, we were told, you could get great views of the mountains. Well this was amazing - a Must Do walk!

Fantastic views of the Southern Alps.

Panoramic views on top which swept around from the sea and lagoons, across the mountains (including Mount Cook) beyond the green forest, to the sea and lagoon to the south.

I'm over here!

Just fantastic and one of the best views you could wish for - so pleased we had a clear day without the sea fog which had been hanging around.

Once back at camp it was nearly time to check out so after parking the bus just down the road we had a walk down to the beach between a couple of the lagoons where there were quite a few birds.

No gold to be found, especially when you don't really know what you are looking for!  Next stop Franz Josef!