Okarito

To say the night was cold would be a slight understatement. Huge frost, resulting on ice inside the camper as the condensation froze! Exciting ;-)

Which in fact was a great incentive to get up early, get warmly dressed and head out for some photos. Got a few sunrise pics of lake Mapourika (after wading thru a swamp, or at least it seemed like it - it was dark and I got wet). Started off towards Franz Joseph, but then decided to back track to Okarito, hadn't been there for years.

Stopped at Okarito Nature Tours here to eat breakfast, get a coffee and by coincidence (apparently) knew the owner Richard. I think I had a little mind fade, apparently he used to work in the ski industry 13 years ago and knew me. OK ... So I got free coffee and some good tips for walks in the area, and best times to revisit in several weeks time with the family.

Then off South again. First stop Franz Joseph, well, the glacier anyway. Walked to Peters Pool and Sentinel Rock, took the obligatory (very beautiful) photos in cloudless conditions, then headed South again. Fox Glacier next. But first a stop in Fox itself to get lunch and do some work. Placing a job ad of all things, as well as a few emails.

Then at 2.30 up to the glacier. Weather deteriorated but it was til OK. Walked part way, a few photos and the South again. The goal was the DOC camp ground at Lake Paringa, but it was closed.

Ended up instead in the Waita River Mouth, which is in reality a big squatters camp for whitebaiters. Talked to one "local" and the whitebaiting is "crap" apparently due to the recent rain and storms. Parked up on the river bed with one other camper, he appeared to be catching a few ... Tomorrow hope to buy some fresh whitebait (yum!), and maybe film some underwater with my GoPro.