The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 40

General Features

General Features.

Some of the most picturesque scenery that even New Zealand can boast of is to be found in Westland. Between the Southern Alps, whose snowy peaks pierce the sky at a height of nearly 14,000 feet, and the coast line may be seen an infinite variety of the grandest alpine and forest scenery. One of the largest glaciers on the western slope of the main range of mountains is the Francis Joseph Glacier, descending from Mount Cook. The face of this magnificent glacier is about half a mile in breadth and of considerable height, and may be easily reached from Hokitika by coach road to Okarito (40 miles), and thence by a fair bridle track some twelve miles up the Waiho river bed. Dense forests, exhibiting new and beautiful forms of vegetation, including the gigantic scarlet flowering myrtle, the rata, one of the largest forest trees, and graceful tree-ferns, clothe the mountain-slopes and much of the undulating lower country towards the sea coast.