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State Highway 6, PO Box 47 Franz Josef, Westland National Park, South Island, New Zealand, 3-752-0729
This morning we departed Christchurch at 8:15 on the famous Tranz Alpine train that crosses the Southern Alps at Arthur's Pass and finishes in Greymouth 4+ hours later. What magnificent scenery! Rented a car in Greymouth and proceeded south along the west coast through the Jade Centre of New Zealand, dairy farms, temperate rain forest and finally saw the Franz Josef Glacier. When we checked in there was a Backroads trailer parked by our car and we later saw their hiking group arrive with thei...
Franz Josef, New Zealand 9livesWe felt blessed this morning when we got up to sunny blue skies. We had booked a half day glacier expedition starting at 8:45. We picked up all our gear - Goretex rain jacket, woolen hats and mitts, boots and "Ice Talonz" for superior glacier drip. The first hour or so was tramping rainforest and glacial riverbed. Then we donned the Ice Talonz and climbed. Awesome and I know our photos won't do it justice. When we left the bus 2:30ish it started to rain. Must be time for laundry and blog upda...
Franz Josef, New Zealand 9livesStill here, mostly being defeated by technology. We had a wonderful time with my godmother Joan, still sprightly at almost 86. Her son-in-law straightened out the wheelchair which has been a godsend, and Quantas managed to deliver it, us and ALL our baggage in one piece to New Zealand. We have had Weather, various (350km mostly in POURING rain yesterday) and New Zealand is beautiful if rather empty. I find it a bit like the Highlands....I'd like a little more sign of human activity! Both now ...
Franz Josef, New Zealand allsoppsawayAfter I lost the first travelogue entry to the void of the internet Im trying once again... Internet for dummies anybody?! We went on the helihike today... Hey Kiery, Aunt Trisha here, this morning we drove up to the heli-hike office and asked one of the young guides to assess us for suitability to survive the hike. He looked at each one of us - up and down - up and down then moved onto the next person up and down - up and down and so on down the line. Once he viewed the final person - we wer...
Franz Josef, New Zealand bjkizzaRight, after 3 give me a "laaaaaaa". Who was that singing flat?? Wilma and I were miming so we know it's not us. Someone out there has not so dulcet tones and has been "Aguilera -ing" it because this rain is torrential. Wilma's concerned because she hasn't packed the right rain wear and I'm concerned because, well, Wilma's not packed the right rain wear. Still, not to be outdone in the fashion stakes or by the weather Wilma and myself have just invested in two very stylish plastic ponchos (pi...
Franz Josef, South Island, New Zealand wilma-n-lesley
... have heard (as i got couple reverse SOS emails)..a 7.8! Everything is fully in tact here, myself and the town, barely a scratch, not even a scratch actually. I managed to sleep right through it and didnt feel a thing. It's bizarre how in dorm rooms (gotta love them) zoaring, rustling, talking wakes me but earthquake, nope. Apparently its quite common to get earthquakes here in NZ (usllay not 7.8 though) and in Franz we are right ...
Franz Josef, South Island, New Zealand tracymiller... hardest to avoid his group, but alas we got just that. In an effort to find common ground with our leader, we asked him about the only Japanese thing we knew. And of course he was familiar with our favourite TV show, Ninja Warrior. The glacier hike was incredible. We witnessed a small avalanche, explored caves and were even told of a small Korean girl who got stuck in a crevasse the day before. If only she was a ninja warrior...
Franz Josef, West Coast, New Zealand darahannah... Frank whose english is sparse but all the more funny given he's mastered every curse word. So he ****s and blinds his way through the day to hilarious effect. We put on ice boots - like ski boots (equally uncomfortable) and hike 6 kilometers throughout the course of the day. The *****es are there. We decide they're not as bad as first thought - but are definitely thick as ****. At the end of the hike on the glacier ...
Franz Josef, South Island, New Zealand codownsean... beds, a kettle, a toaster and a television that had sky. Unfortunately for us the boys soon discovered our TV and invaded our room to watch the football. There was then a small battle between the football and Gossip Girl - Gossip Girl winning of course. Somehow we managed to drag ourselves out of what I truly believe was the most comfortable room in the world but only to end up in the hot pools. This involved 3 pools each getting slightly higher in ...
Franz Josef, South Island, New Zealand ahammond4... water falls were pouring over the road. We stopped at the Fantail Cafe in Haast for a delicious Whitebait pattie for elevenses and had a lunch of mushroom soup and bread on the windswept Maori beach. At Fox we found out the rain would continue unabated for maybe 1 week and our Helihike to Franz Joseph glacier was likely to be canceled. At ...
Franz Josef, South Island, New Zealand yvetteandjack
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