The pictures I share today are not from this current tour. Why you may rightfully ask? Well the west coast of New Zealand has 40% of its weather as wet. And today it was a really wet one. Not cold though.
We departed our Fox Glacier hotel at 8.30am for breakfast at the Lake Matheson café. And what a beautiful breakfast it was. But as for the planned walk after breakfast or the beautiful views of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman you often get from the café, forget it.
68mm of rain forecast and I would swear all 68mm fell on our trip today and probably a lot more.
The walk to Fox Glacier was out for my 16 Swedish guests. The walk to Franz Josef was rained out although some did go to ‘The Sentinel’ lookout and found nothing to be seen. The helicopter was grounded for those booked on that. Altogether a rather wet tour day.
Lunch stop was Hokitika where I added another 30 minutes on to the normal hour long stop. We are running well ahead of schedule so let them go eat then go spend some money on our greenstone jewellery on offer.
Greymouth an early arrival at the Kingsgate Hotel. 3pm. I am never that early in to a night stop and I even timed it badly with a larger coach arriving 5 minutes before me so I ended up being driver, guide and now porter lugging suitcases up the stairs. My arm muscles now really strong following this tour season.
Tomorrow its off to Nelson. A long days driving for me and a long day in the bus for my Swedish group. Hopefully the weather will be better. Then its over to Wellington just for the night before I face the 520km trek through to Rotorua. A horrific day for me as driver/guide and for my Swedish passengers. But not my fault, I didn’t come up with the agenda.
Counting down to the18th when the tour season for me comes to a close. Body and mind are exhausted but we will make it through the tour. Not sleeping well. Tired of living out of a suitcase and exceptionally tired of restaurant meals
Peter and Xiaoli Tours 