routeburn, greenstone and the way north

on the 6th we started the routeburn. another "great walk". lots of people, almost paved path, very accessible. this time we cut it short in advance, and booked it as a 2 days walk (instead of 3).and we combined it with the greenstone to an almost circular 4 days tramp (we cut the greenstone in a day as well).
we didn't expect too much, though people said it's really good. but people said it about the heaphy as well...
the day started cloudy but nice. later it became really rainy. pouring rain.
and it was so amazing! walking in the rain was sometimes really very annoying, and we were soaking wet, but it was a bit of adventure as well. and the views... everywhere you looked you could see a waterfall.every mountain slope held 4-10 gushing waterfalls.it was just so beautiful!
we walked as if in a dream. so maybe we're still hungry for views after all (as opposed to what we felt on the dusky).
the rain didn't really stop these whole 2 days, and we were completely soaked, but really happy. we even had to go through a waterfall in some point. we went through a saddle, and saw a few lakes, and it was just so beautiful. but the waterfalls were the really amazing part...
the greenstone was really nice as well, though much more relaxed. walking in a wide, beautiful valley. nothing dramatic, but much better than i expected. and it was sunny and warm and beautiful.
the first night on the greenstone we met an israeli girl, who came through the greenstone, and she had the most frightening experience. due to the rain, she had to cross waist-deep streams, and she was alone, and inexperienced. she was about to give up and go back, but some american guy took her through it...she was really shocked. we did it a day after, and the water barely got into our shoes...
Maayan and I decided that the routeburn-greenstone was really one of our best hikes in NZ. in the same level with the taranaki and the traverse-sabine. so much fun!!!:)
anyway, having such a great hike, and the last hut being really very very nice and friendly, and not having much time left, Maayan and Yuval decided they don't want to do anymore hikes. so we decided to work our way northward, so that they can cross to the north island on the 14th (we finished the greenstone on the 9th).
and so we did. on the 10th we drove north, stopping on a few lookouts, doing some short walks near haast pass- we went to the "blue pools" - freezing water but a lot of fun!- we climbed up to a lookout above haast pass itself- a few lookouts on waterfalls on the way.
we finished the day at lake matheson .it's a lake near fox glacier, where in good weather you can see mt cook and mt tasman reflecting in its water.we had good weather.and we were there for sunset. amazing!!!so amazingly beautiful!
the next day we were having breakfast in franz-joseph glacier village, when a chopper went above us. yuval and maayan looked at one another, and after a while went to check the prices...they went on a heli-ride.and they were even upgraded...they had the most incredible time ever, flying above both glaciers and seeing mt cook from the air!
the following day we drove northward, yuval took a water taxi along the abel-tasman park, and we went to the farewell spit area. we had a few nice hours, but nothing too exciting. nice beaches, the northern-most tip of the south island.we didn't see baby-seals playing in tide-pools like yuval saw when he was there...Yuval, on the other hand had really great time. the views from the water taxi were good, and he saw a pod of orcas!!
next day we had a nice breakfast in Nelson, and drove to picton. coming back to the juggler's rest for the 3rd time, it felt like coming back home. and niki, the girl remembered us, and treated us as special guests (giving us the special jam for ourselves and stuff) .and in the evening she put up a really nice fire show. it was really a nice day, with a good bye dinner and all.
the next morning i left them and hit the road back south...

this time - 2 lessons- it seems that some places look much better when it's raining...- even a "great walk" can be really great!

relevant albums...

http://tomeraroundtheworld.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b32b47f9057e

http://tomeraroundtheworld.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b32b47f48443