Reflection Lodge Fox Glacier

... so we didn't see them. We did find some nice shells and stones though which was a bonus.

After getting absolutely soaked, we were feeling sorry for ourselves (well I was anyway) and as we drove along, I suggested that we book into a motel in Fox. Dave agreed but only if they had Sky as he wanted to watch the rugby match (England v NZ). We found ...

... was not bad. It was 45 seconds of free falling but it felt longer. Once the parachute was out, we were just floating! But as he started to do some twists and turns, I was feeling a bit dazed and confused and I didn’t like that part! I can definitely see how people like the adrenalin rush! After the Sky dive, we both were so exhausted that we had to sleep for an hour! Amazing what your nerves can do!

Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand worldtraveler2

... which we were able to avoid). We crossed several streams, some of which were quite deep and we had to wade through, before reaching the bottom of the glacier. We crossed the barriers which are there to keep the general public out and started our climb to the base of the glacier. This involved climbing up a ladder over the rocks where Lee was playing at being Fireman Sam!! We then put our spikes on the bottoms of our boots and ...

... sounds and motion of skiing for the first time since my last ski-ing trip which preceeded digital camcorders, mobile phones and the internet.
Day 3
We chose a change of scenery and since our lessons were done, headed for Coronet Peak in our own vehicle this time. This field is 300metres lower than the previous but 60 hectares larger with 4 main lifts and the longest run at 2.4 km. It is more accessible by road which is sealed and we could ...

... to dry off, but then I fell in two of the streams on the way back to the car park – didn’t find it funny at all as I was now soaking again! I was holding on to Luke on one occasion but instead of pull me up when I stumbled, he just let me fall in! useless!

It was a very tiring day, but it was really good and something totally different to anything we had ever done before. We were planning on driving south again that evening ...

... the lads from Grimsby and our guide were well earned. Rumour has it that the local Dunkin' Donuts had their best trading day ever!!

The following day before we ventured up to the other Glacier, named after the foreigner, we went to the nearby Lake Mathieson, which is the location of the classic picture-postcard looking across the lake, past the glaciers and onto Mount Cook. On a good calm day you get a wonderful mirror image on the lake - as the photos show we didn't do too bad!

... br>The next day i had to be up relatively early as i was going to be Ice Climbing (full day) on the Franz Joseph Glacier. This was an UNBELIEVABLE experience, there was only the four of us, an American Family and myself. No other Kiwi experience people did this activity seeing as it was $240. The majority of Kiwi Experience travellers choose the half or full day hike on the Glacier which is the cheaper option.
I am also glad that the American family were there as the ...

... to a few people that had done the helicopter ride to the top of the glacier, so went to Fox Glacier village to enquire about prices. I booked myself on a thirty minute trip that would go to Mount Cook then a walk on the glacier. While we waited for this, we went for a walk around Lake Matheson, which had beautiful views f the mountain range in the background, and the reflection of ...

... of Mt Tasman and Mt Cook while we
feasted, then we got ready and headed out to the internet "centre", or
a room full of computers that take prepaid access codes, to post the
previous blog.

... lights, Lake Wakatipu and across to the simply stunning backdrop of The Remarkables. After dinner it was time to spend some time in town and we hit an establishment called Winnie Bagoes. It was packed to the hilt and its greatest attraction was a roof that opened up for a few minutes every hour, bringing the black night sky in and causing sharp draughts of cold air to filter through. It also had the double advantage of pulling out all the cigarette smoke.