Fox's Glacier, but no mints?

Driving down the west coast through the rainforest we have barely seen any vehicles. The main highways are one lane in each direction, no motorways here! And even in the occasional towns there are not many more cars.

We headed to Franz Josef Glacier first. It was about a 40 minute walk to get as close to the lip of the glacier as they would let you go. Most of it was covered in dirty grey dust and dirt and the river colour (the glacial "milk") was sludgy! They often have flash floods with roads and bridges being washed away!

It is quite a harsh landscape and after all of the lush greenery quite hard to empathise with, from the bottom at least.

Some of us were booked to go up in a helicopter, to the top of the glacier, but unfortunately weather conditions meant that the helicopters couldn't fly, so we masked our disappointment (hopefully we can do it later on), sucked it up, hugged it out and moved on, to the hot glacier pools, to be exact. It may be an oxymoron but still cost me $20! 

Outdoor pools, fed from thermal springs at 36, 38 and 40c! By the time I hit the 40c pool I was somewhat red and overheating, but you just didn't want to leave! As soon as we got in the pool we heard the helicopters overhead, bloney Sod's law!!!!

When we eventually did get out it turned out that we only had energy to get to the closest pub. But they said they would feed us, and give us drinks, and the barman was dressed as Jesus, so who was I to argue!   I also had quite a conversation with a kiwi pirate..... They prefer kiwi's on their shoulders to parrots! Who knew?!

 

Having done Franz Josef glacier it seemed only fitting to also investigate the Fox Glacier. No one has ever heard of the mints! Can you believe it?

But first because we were up "early doors", 0600, I will have you know, we headed to Lake Matheson. Why is it that I seem to be able to get out off bed in a relatively harmonious mood here, but can barely turn up for work before 8:30am? Anyway the lake allows an awesome reflection of the mountains, but you have to get there before 8am when the wind starts to pick up and messes with the surface of the water.

The walk there was just heavenly. The sun shining, dew on the grass, walking by the stream through the woods, the birds singing, and just quiet. Could have stayed there all day.

Our next hike was somewhat more arduous as we headed up to the lip of Fox glacier. The path keeps getting changed, after floods or rockfalls. At one spot you are not allowed to stop, because lingering puts you in more danger! Fox was definitely a more impressive sight, but maybe that was down to lack of oxygen after having climbed the valley to get there!

The glacier is receeding at a rate if 1 metre a year. Ah well!!!!

The rest of the day can only be described as a day of picture postcard views, as we headed up the Haas Pass, passed Thunder Creek Falls, Knights Point. Lake Hawea, Wanaka (former home of Angelina Ballerina), past Cardona and down into Queenstown.

 

Knights Point

Wanaka

Lake Hawea

Honesly the scenery is just stunning, and you find yourself just endlessly taking photos, as around each corner it a better view. There is forest, moorland, farmland (with lots of very cute lambs), lakes, waterfalls, mountains. It really is just nuts! All of this amazing countryside and barely anyone in it! You just want to get out and walk for hours!