Okarito Trig Walk - or - One Hell Of A Good Spot For Lunch

When I first got to Fox a departing staff member told me that the view from the Okarito Trig Walk was one of the best easily accessible views that she had seen in all of New Zealand. I'd already been gobsmacked by the view from Gillespies Beach so of course this meant I couldn't wait to go and check out how it was possible to get an even better view.

 It helped that the day I decided to go was another West Coast special, a superb bluebird sky day. The Trig walk is only an hour and a half return with a steady rise up a hill to get to the viewpoint. Of course I had to stop several times to catch my breath haha but apart from that it was still reasonably easy track, and so worth it!

Photo Stop at Lake Mapourika

Gillespies Beach and the View of Views

One of my first days off in Fox Glacier was an absolute stunner of a day - deep blue sky, not a cloud to be seen, or the smallest puff of wind; it was made for exploring. It'd been a pretty rainy week so I was super keen to get out and check out some gorgeous scenery. The local beach, Gillespies,' is only a half hour drive away over a hill on a small, twisty gravel road, and damn is it worth it!

I'm home, it's good, but I'm away travelling again already

I've been back in New Zealand for over three months now, and it was completely bizarre how easily I fit straight back in as if I hadn't just been living on the other side of the world for nearly three years. Living back at my parents' place, catching rides in and out of the city, trawling through the job ads on Trademe, and going out to dinner with my friends. 

It's good to be back; good to spend a decent amount of time with everyone again; good to not have to worry about visas; good to be able to have access to a car and drive anywhere again. It's good to be able to say things like 'tiki tour,' 'jandals,' 'kumara,' 'ten' and 'pen'* again; and good to eat Whittakers chocolate and Tip Top boysenberry ice cream any time I want.

Hanging with these cuties while at home was a pretty good bonus