Nov 14, 2009 - Up, up and away !

Well I made it back from Heli-hike and I have to say it was a fantastic experience !!! After a 45 minute delay because of bad weather, we were taken to the heli-pad and suited up in the appropriate outdoor gear for the glacier hike.Well I made it back from Heli-hike and I have to say it was a fantastic experience !!! After a 45 minute delay because of bad weather, we were taken to the heli-pad and suited up in the appropriate outdoor gear for the glacier hike....

Nov 12, 2009 - Beaches, Lakes and Glaciers

So five days have gone by and I am now halfway down the west of the South Island.So five days have gone by and I am now halfway down the west of the South Island....

Nov 9, 2009 - The Real Deal

Nov 5 Went from Christchurch through the rather vast open plain headed towards the Alps.Nov 5 Went from Christchurch through the rather vast open plain headed towards the Alps....

Oct 5, 2009 - Can You Put Some More Ice In My Drink Please?

Thank goodness for the new sleeping bag.Thank goodness for the new sleeping bag....

Jul 18, 2009 - The Franz Josef Glacier

It was a long days drive to get here with stunning scenery on the way and I arrived in Franz Josef to find it not surprisingly somewhat cold so it was out with the fleeces as I had a look at the glacier and decided to I had enough time to walk to the glacier face before sunset.It was a long days drive to get here with stunning scenery on the way and I arrived in Franz Josef to find it not surprisingly somewhat cold so it was out with the fleeces as I had a look at the glacier and decided to I had enough time to walk to the glacier face before sunset....

Apr 15, 2009 - Glacier Fox

Ce matin nous sommes allés voir le glacier Fox, le grand voisin de Franz Josef, situé tout près à environ 25 km.Ce matin nous sommes allés voir le glacier Fox, le grand voisin de Franz Josef, situé tout près à environ 25 km....

Apr 14, 2009 - Franz Josef

Sans grand étonnement, notre arrivée sur la côte Ouest fut sous la pluie (ils en reçoivent près de 5 mètres par année!).Sans grand étonnement, notre arrivée sur la côte Ouest fut sous la pluie (ils en reçoivent près de 5 mètres par année!)....

Mar 30, 2009 - Franz Josef Glacier

Quelle journee incroyable! Nous sommes dans une region ou il pleut presque tout le temps et on a eu une journee parfaite! Il faisait beau et chaud. La plupart des gens dans l'autobus on choisi de faire une randonnee d'une journee sur le Franz Josef Glacier. ... Ca a ete une longue et epuisante randonnee sur ce magnifique glacier, mais ca en a valu la peine.Quelle journee incroyable! Nous sommes dans une region ou il pleut presque tout le temps et on a eu une journee parfaite! Il faisait beau et chaud. La plupart des gens dans l'autobus on choisi de faire une randonnee d'une journee sur le Franz Josef Glacier. ... Ca a ete une longue et epuisante randonnee sur ce magnifique glacier, mais ca en a valu la peine....

Mar 11, 2009 - Franz Josef Heli-Hike! And some Market Research!

Today was all about the Franz Josef Glacier! We had book a Heli-hike for today. ... It was quite expensive however it took you all the way up the Glacier to the more untouched pristine ice rather than the second hand stuff down the bottom!!! There were day hikes etc but again these didn't get up to anywhere near where we were going so we went for our one instead.Today was all about the Franz Josef Glacier! We had book a Heli-hike for today. ... It was quite expensive however it took you all the way up the Glacier to the more untouched pristine ice rather than the second hand stuff down the bottom!!! There were day hikes etc but again these didn't get up to anywhere near where we were going so we went for our one instead....

Mar 10, 2009 - Bye bye Queenstown :( Arrowtown - Franz Josef

Today we had to leave Queenstown! we loved it here, although we didn't do everything we wanted to we have to leave as we have to get to Franz Josef today.Today we had to leave Queenstown! we loved it here, although we didn't do everything we wanted to we have to leave as we have to get to Franz Josef today....

Feb 6, 2009 - Fox Glacier

If we hadn’t already decided to do some major driving today, the gathering clouds would have indicated that this was a good day to hit the road. Less than twenty miles up the road is Franz Josef Glacier, which we hope to hike to tomorrow weather permitting. ... At least the Austrian man who discovered it, named it after his emperor.If we hadn’t already decided to do some major driving today, the gathering clouds would have indicated that this was a good day to hit the road. Less than twenty miles up the road is Franz Josef Glacier, which we hope to hike to tomorrow weather permitting. ... At least the Austrian man who discovered it, named it after his emperor....

Jan 14, 2009 - Franz Josef Glacier

Interestingly in the 1980’s both Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers grew by over a kilometre towards the sea. ... It was just one street with loads of tourist places selling helicopter flights, hikes on the glaciers, quad biking etc – but Franz Josef Glacier was right above you and dominated the view. ... How about a helicopter flight? Why not! And off we went! The 30 minute flight headed up over Franz Josef Glacier first, then over the top where both glaciers join, with a view of Mount Cook peaking between the two, then down over Fox Glacier. ... Rosie’s face was a picture though when we took off! We landed at the top of Franz Josef Glacier to take a few pictures and had a snow ball fight. ...