Sunday 12th January 2025
This was the third attempt by the club to view the Franz Josef glacier at the end of the Roberts Point track and in this instance we were lucky to succeed. The weather is the determining factor on whether you can reach the viewing platform as there as large stretches of basalt rock to walk over that when slippery would prove near impossible to get across safely.
With the weather good we left Hokitika and drove en convoy to Franz where we parked up at the Alex Knob carpark. This was very busy that day with cars and campervans and as I hate walking wanted to make the route as short as possible.
There is only a short 500m walk from the road to the big swing bridge seen in the picture above, this is the crossing of the Waiho river that was modestly running on the day we crossed but i’m sure would look awesome when in flood.
You can’t go wrong with this day walk as you just follow the track and the tourists of which there are many. The first stretch of track takes you up to Hende’s Hut which would have had close and beautiful views of the glacier had it not receeded as far as it has, nevertheless the views are something to behold.
We were walking in high summer and had the bloom of the Rata trees all throughout the valley, they have a distinctive red bristle not unlike the Pohutukawa. The long stretch of summer sun must of triggered the bloom because some years you don’t see them. We kept going and going and finally reached the end of the track which has a large wooden viewing platfrom from which you can sit and absorb the views, have a bite to eat and rehydrate before your knees take the full brunt of this jaunt…going downhill.
On the way down we noticed something we didn’t see on the way up. A large red patch on a rock. This area of the track was quick wet and slimy and I found out later when having lunch that a tourist had fallen and smashed their knee on this rock and had to be airlifted off the track at Hende’s Hut. So be warned while tourists are all spritefully walking up here in trainers i’d probably recommend something with a Vibram sole to ensure you don’t lose grip.
It was a fun day out with Ben, Christine, Anand and Alan and always nice to visit Franz Josef.
Euan Mackenzie (Member)
