Day 203 – Wanaka to Hokitika
Once again, most of the day was spent on the road as we drove from Wanaka to Hokitika. The 419km drive was once again full of amazing sceneries and several highlights.
We started the day by popping down to Lake Wanaka, right near the town of Wanaka. The water was really cold, so we didn’t spend too much time here.
We then continued to drive up North towards Hokitika, going between Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka. Both lakes almost meet at a place called The Neck. There are plenty of lookout points along the way, and we only decided to stop at a handful to limit the driving time.
Lake Hawea Lookout Makarora Lake Hawea Rd The Neck
Our snack break was at a waterfall called Thunder Creek Falls. It was a poor location to stop as we were attacked by some flying insects that managed to find their way into the car and bit us for the next 20 minutes. However, the falls themselves were a short walk away from the road. Due to the rocks and shallow water, the creek was very loud, which is where I assume the name comes from.
Next we drove to Fox Glacier. We were disappointed to find out that the road was washed away due to torrential rain in the area. Looking online, we found another viewpoint close by. It required a 10-15 minute walk along the trees. The views were definitely not worth it, as it was blocked by fog.
Fox Glacier?
Unfazed by the poor views at Fox Glacier, we continued down the road to Franz Josef Glacier. From the carpark, we were rewarded by the massive glacier. After some lunch, we walked down to the viewpoint. It was cool to see the various markers showing where the snow used to be throughout the 20th century. The markers clearly show an acceleration in the melting of the ice. Global Warming deniers should definitely come here.
After the amazing glacier, we continued driving for a few hours down the winding roads to the small coastal town of Hokitika. By the time we arrived, it was pretty late and the sun was set behind rain clouds, so we didn’t do any exploring.
Whataroa Highway
