Great Glacier
Trip Start
Sep 08, 2005
1
15
36
Trip End
Nov 29, 2005
Franz Josef,
New Zealand
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Got a lie in until 9.00!!!!!! YYYYEEEEEEHHHHHAAA.
Left Greymouth and headed for Franz Josef Glacier.
On the way we stopped in Hokitika and visited a Jade factory. This place was so cool - saw the guys cut and polish the jade. Again the bus driver was really informative about the local area and about how jade was first discovered and used.
Moved on and got into Franz Josef late in the afternoon. After checking in (Glow Worm Cottages - nice place) we got a bus out to the Glacier and started the long walk up to the face of it
Franz Josef glacier 1
. The walk was worth it though - it was class. Because it was late in the afternoon there were very few people there so we got a chance to duck under the warning barriers and get a bit closer (50 metres away!!). It has a sheer face and can move up to 1 metre per day!Went up on top of the lookout hill to get a better view of everything - and guess what? we got a better view of everything.
Went out that night (sorry guys) and came across a great happy hour - one of the first we have had - about $2 (80p) for a pint!! Happy days. It was so dark that night that the moon lit up the snow capped peaks of the mountains just behind us - it was beautiful. It's just a pity that the cameras couldn't really pick it up.
Tracy & JP
