RIBBONWOOD RETREAT B & B ACCOMMODATION
  • Welcome
  • Our Rooms
    • The Cottage
    • The Waiho Rooms
  • About
    • Sustainability
    • Tiaki - Care for New Zealand
    • Covid-19
  • Breakfast
  • Recommended Activities
    • Tramps and Walks
    • Wildlife
    • Birds >
      • Bird List
  • Contact
  • Blog

Alex Knob Track

8/1/2020

0 Comments

 
Climbing Alex Knob will reward trampers with some the best views of Franz Josef Glacier. This is not a stroll in the park though, it will take  eight hours with a steady uphill climb of over 1000m.  This is a tramping track with rough terrain so you will need to be prepared climb over windfalls and watch out for obstacles (I have been known to forget to look upward and banged my head on branches jutting out.)  The track zig zags endlessly on, but the thick forest and bird life are good reasons to stop and take rests. Rata Lookout is the first welcome respite with good views of the glacier far below, then further on Christmas Lookout and views up ahead of the summit. The next part is our favourite with the sub alpine plants making a picturesque garden including shrub daisies such as Leatherwood, Dracophyllum  Hebes and Coprosma, continuing on climbing and zig zagging  to the 1303 summit. 360 degree views await here, with the Southern Alps, the Tasman Sea, the tiny village below,  while the whole Franz Josef Glacier lies before you. ​
view of the Franz Josef Glacier from the top of Alex Knob
The top of the Alex Knob track
Franz Josef Glacier with cloud in the valley
The mighty Franz Josef Glacier
View from Christmas lookout of the glacier
View on the way up from Christmas lookout
pink skies of the sunset from the mountain top
Sunset from the tops
Views of the river
Views from the tops of the Waiho river
views toward Ribbonwood Retreat
Views from the tops out toward Ribbonwood Retreat and Lake Mapourika
0 Comments

    Author

    Keen on the outdoors, we often hike around our local area so we can pass on all our knowledge about Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

    Categories

    All
    Awards
    Biodiversity Conservation
    New Zealand National Parks
    NZ Bucket List
    South Island NZ
    Tramping

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    May 2021
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020

    RSS Feed

The Baumann Glacier Room
​
The Waiho Rooms
​
The Cottage
Activities in Franz Josef
Ribbonwood B & B accommodation is conveniently located just 5 km from Franz Josef Glacier Village.           
​We are close to the restaurants (some offer a complimentary taxi service to and fro.)
​Ribbonwood is ten kilometres and ten minutes drive from the glacier.​
Our Location
​Corner Greens Road and State Highway 6
Franz Josef Glacier
+64 3 7520072
​

stay@ribbonwood.net.nz

Qualmark logo
Picture
Picture
We are proudly a quality assessed Bed and Breakfast
Website design by Ribbonwood ​
  • Welcome
  • Our Rooms
    • The Cottage
    • The Waiho Rooms
  • About
    • Sustainability
    • Tiaki - Care for New Zealand
    • Covid-19
  • Breakfast
  • Recommended Activities
    • Tramps and Walks
    • Wildlife
    • Birds >
      • Bird List
  • Contact
  • Blog