Jan 15, 2026 Franz Josef
We set off this morning on our move to the southern end of the Southern Alps. We drove through the town of Franz Josef, stopping to get some groceries because this is the biggest town (population of about 500) between here and our destination of Makarora.
The view from the main street in Franz Josef, looking up at the Franz Josef glacier high in the mountains.
The road took us south along the coast in spots, then turned inland and followed the Haast river through the Haast pass, named by the provincial geologist Julius von Haast when making the first official crossing over the pass in 1863.
Thunder Creek Falls, one of 3 large falls along the pass route.