Category: Travel

A woman and two young girls sit in the foreground with a distant view of Fox Glacier behind them. The receding Fox Glacier is visible from the glacier viewing area. Stone debris and slate are visible in much of the foreground, with only a small edge of the glacier still visible at the top of the valley.

Written by Mod Fam on May 19, 2019

Tour New Zealand – South Island Itinerary: Fox Glacier

The mountain villages of Fox Glacier and Franz Josef provide access to the two most accessible glaciers on the West Coast. You can easily spend a full day exploring the glacier nature walks and the villages that thrive on the summertime tourist economy. At Fox Glacier, the hike to view the receding glacier has more than doubled since we first started visiting in 2003, due to the stunning retreat of the glacier.

Tall native grasses blow under a bright blue sky on New Zealand's West Coast.

Written by Mod Fam on May 16, 2019

New Zealand Road Trip – New Zealand Beaches: Makarora to Fox Glacier

New Zealand . Outdoor Recreation . Tent Camping . Travel . Worldwide Travel

For this part of the trip, we recommend taking a full day to drive the stretch from Makarora to Fox Glacier, with plenty of time to stop at the blue pools and the beaches North of Haast. If you have a little more time, break this up into two sections, camping near Bruce Bay or Haast.

An aerial view of the dramatic blue pools. Round coves can be seen where the water has carved the cliffs on either side of the tributary, the water flowing down from the mountains into the broad river downstream.

Written by Mod Fam on May 15, 2019

Blue Pools New Zealand

Hiking . New Zealand . Outdoor Recreation . Travel . Worldwide Travel

Visiting the Blue Pools, you’ll find a series of unbelievably turquoise pools just below a waterfall that opens up into a wide river below. The banks are littered with smooth, round stones, and the glacial mineral runoff refracts the sun’s light to create the most beautiful blue water imaginable. If it wasn’t for the hordes of sandflies, this would truly be paradise.

A family looks at native New Zealand bush on a trek around Makarora West's nature trails

Written by Mod Fam on May 15, 2019

New Zealand South Island Tour – Makarora West

Hiking . New Zealand . Outdoor Recreation . Travel . Worldwide Travel

Once you leave Queenstown, drive up between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea for spectacular views of both lakes and Mt. Aspiring National Park to the West. We highly recommend the reasonably-priced and comfortable A-Frame accommodations at the Makarora Tourist Centre, just below Mt. Shrimpton and adjacent to Mt. Aspiring National Park.

A view of Lake Wakatipu from the hills outside of Queenstown at sunset. Bayonet Peaks are visible across the lake.

Written by Mod Fam on May 14, 2019

Cities in New Zealand – Queenstown to Arrowtown

Hiking . New Zealand . Outdoor Recreation . Travel . Worldwide Travel

If you’re driving from Queenstown toward the West Coast, be sure to check out Arrowtown; there are plenty of accommodations, from camping or renting a cabin at the local holiday park to private rentals, all just a short drive from the busy streets of Queenstown.

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