New Zealand South Island Tour - 16-21 November 2008

We left Franz Josef around 9 am. The early morning hours had been beautiful with just a few clouds coming in over the mountain that feeds the glacier. I tried to walk up to the viewing point of the glacier to get a picture with the sunlight but it was not to be. I got within 1 km and figured I would be late getting back to the hotel and Jay would worry so I turned around and returned to the hotel to get ready to leave.
As we were leaving the clouds were beginning to return.

This morning we are traveling to Greymouth where we will catch the Tranz Scenic train back to Christchurch. We traveled through pastureal lands with the Southern Alps as backdrop. We passed many glacial lakes and rivers and drove up the western coast of New Zealand with the Tasman Sea on our left. We stopped for a refreshment break at the Bushmans Center.
Franz Josef Glacier early in the morning on my walk.
Mountain that feeds Franz Josef glacier.
Glacier flow to the sea.
Franz Josef Glacier from the bridge.
Last view of Franz Josef Glacier as we leave the town.
Ferns growing out of the rock along the sides of the road.
Tasman Sea.
We left the coast and headed in land where we stopped at the Bushmans Center for refreshment. They have raised reindeer and goats as pets so they were very tame and we were able to feed them. My hands were covered in saliva from those animals and the bus left immediately afterwards so I couldn't wash them until the next stop.
Welcome sign. Old car at the Bushmans Center.
Big fly on the building at the Bushmans Center. Since it is fly season around here, this one has special significance to us.
Feeding the tame animals at the Bushmans Center.
Feeding the animals.
Weather report at the Bushmans Center. We loved this sign because everyone was always asking what the weather was going to be like.
Very tame animal.

Bridge that is used by rail, cars and trucks and pedestrians.