West Coast

I first visited the West Coast region in New Zealand back in December 2017 when I hiked the Heaphy Track (which I started on its western end, on 21 December 2017 in the West Coast).  Upon completing the Heaphy and Abel Tasman Coast Tracks, I drove through the West Coast (from 29 to 30 December 2017) and visited the region’s star attractions: Pancake Rocks, Franz Josef Glacier, and Fox Glacier. Then, I returned to the West Coast from 23 to 25 December 2018 and once again saw the region’s star attractions. What follows are photographs from both visits.

 

Palm trees near Pancake Rocks.
Some of the rock formations at Pancake Rocks.
Another view of Pancake Rocks with the Tasman Sea behind them.
Looking south at New Zealand’s west coast from Pancake Rocks.
Watching the waves crash against Pancake Rocks.
Looking northward from Pancake Rocks.
Franz Josef Glacier.
Franz Josef Glacier with the Waiho River.
Closer view of Franz Josef Glacier.
Looking back at Franz Josef Glacier.
Hiking on the River Walk Lookout Track to see Fox Glacier.
View of Fox Glacier.
Boardwalk next to the dunes on Ship Creek Beach.
Dead wood on Ship Creek Beach.
Fox Glacier.
Fox River.
Franz Josef Glacier (revisited).
Trident Creek Falls.
Closer view of Franz Josef Glacier.
View of Franz Josef Glacier from the observation deck on Sentinel Rock.
Peters Pool – near the car park for the Franz Josef Glacier Walk.
Coal Creek Falls, near the town of Runanga.
Beach to the south of Pancake Rocks.
Flora around Pancake Rocks.
Looking south from Pancake Rocks.
Another view of Pancake Rocks and the west coast of New Zealand.
Walking on the beach south of Pancake Rocks in the evening.

 

 

An open journal or an exercise in narcissism.