Franz Joseph Glacier

4th Feb... A really scenic trip over Arthur's Pass to Franz Joseph

Catherine and I at Glacier

On Saturday morning we set off after breakfast to cover the Canterbury Plains, the Souther Alps and cross over Arthur's Pass. Many people take the Tranz-Alpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth (over Arthur's Pass) but, we had the car and needed it to continue our journey. We did not go to Greymouth (nothing of iterest there) but headed south for Hokitika. The drive from Christchurch was fantastic - we drove up over Porters Pass, passed the skifields of Craigieburn Forest Park (no snow as it is summer time) and Pearson Lake to Arthur's Pass. This Pass is a real feat of engineering and is the main route across the Southern Alps. There are lots of pull in places along the way to take photos - just as well, because it is a beautiful area. You then descend down from Arthur's Pass to Otira and go through a lovely evergreen forest. There are not enough superlatives to describe the scenery along the road.We stopped for lunch in Hokitika - a real arts and crafts place but rather run down now. It used to be a gold mining town in the 1860's but jade is now being mined. Nothing memorable to be said about this place.

Dirty Franz Joseph glacier

We eventually arrived in Franz Joseph and checked in to our place for the night - Montrose BBH - it had great views of the Southern Alps. It was a glorious sunny day. We found a lovely place for dinner called Beeches - a good spot - as we waited for dinner we watched the helicopters taking off and landing en route to Franz Joseph Glacier. After dinner we had a walk around the town - not very big and full of Adventure Tour offices. We enquired about walking on the glacier the next day but I was advised not to due to my knee - the glacier steps are too steep and slippery. Neither of us wanted to do the helicopter ride - it costs NZ$180 for a 10-minute ride!! That night was not good for sleeping - firstly, the couple next door had a big row and when they shut up the fire alarm went off - a piercing noice for ages!! Having had breakfast next morning, we were glad to be on the road again.

Fox Glacier

Franz Joseph climbers