We’re staying in “Glacier Country”, with two easily accessed glaciers nearby. We retraced our steps back over the mountain to drive to Fox Glacier. This was named for the 19th century surveyor and politician Sir William Fox. At 13km long it is the longest glacier in the Westland national Park, and comes closer to sea level than any other glacier in a temperate region.
Driving into the car park we felt dwarfed underneath the towering cliffs. The glacier had advanced and retreated many times over the eons, and we could imagine these huge cliffs carved out by the slowly moving ice flow.
The glacier walkway is a dangerous place and there were signs everywhere warning of falling rocks, and extolling people to keep strictly to the paths. Several people have been killed in recent years because they didn’t head the warnings and climbed over the barriers. Signs giving the conditions and weather warnings are updated daily.
The pathway up to the face of the glacier was rocky and uneven, so we had to be careful and watch where we placed our feet. We joined the crowds of people heading up to the glacier, while a steady stream of early birds were walking back down the path. There were lots of young tourists, of course, but an equal number of older people, and young families too, all out to get a glimpse of the glacier. Huge rocks had come tumbling down and were lying everywhere, and several streams trickled down the steep hills. In wet conditions, these would become torrents, loosening even more rocks.
After a half hour walk we were finally at the end of the track, and signs warned us to go no further. By the time the glacier has reached this point, it has picked up all manner of rocks and debris and is no longer bright and shiny ice.
A trip up to Glacier View Road gave us quite a different perspective of the glacier. After a pleasant 15 minute walk through the bush gave we arrived at the lookout and could see much further to the top as it snaked down the mountain.
Lunch in the sun at Lake Matheson was next, and we walked around the lake, famous for the reflections it gives, in the right conditions. The lake water is dark and tea coloured, caused by the tannin leached from the leaf litter, and it is this dark colour which makes the lake so reflective. On a good day it is possible to see reflections of Mt Cook, but the mountain was hiding under cloud cover today.
Lake Matheson is in the Westland National Park, and the area is full of rimu, totara and kahikatea trees, amongst others. It is a beautiful place and the bush walk to the lake lookout was glorious.
That was enough sightseeing for the day, so we headed back to camp. Perhaps we will visit the other glacier in this area tomorrow?
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