Ice, Ice, Baby

It was only a short drive from where we had slept to Franz Joseph and the Franz Joseph Glacier.

We wandered around the town comparing heli-flight prices and eventually decided on a company that would give us a discount if more than one of us flew. Dad, Tiff, Court and I decided to fly, Mum and Eb thinking they couldn't handle the height.

Just before we paid though, Mum changed her mind and decided to join us. So the 5 of us flew up and over the Franz Joseph Glacier over a mountain range to the adjoining Fox Glacier and landed on the top. Then down Fox and back around to Franz Joseph. The experience was unbelievable and is almost impossible to describe. The glaciers are unlike anything I had ever seen before and the concept behind them is also incredible. You really have to see it to believe it...luckily for everyone else, we videotaped the whole thing...no commentary though cause the helicopter is too loud.

The rest of the day was spent driving down the coast to Haast and then inland to Lake Wanaka where we spent the night. We saw some cool ice formations on the side of the road too, where it was obviously cold enough to freeze runoff from the mountains.