"Ice, Ice Baby"

Wanaka art gallery
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Much as we would liked to have stayed longer, we had to say a sad farewell to Queenstown. It was good (and dangerous) while it lasted but we had a date with a glacier that we simply had to keep.

On the way we thought that we would check out Wanaka which has a pretty large lake and also, randomly, one of the coolest art collections we have seen. Along the banks of the lake there are over a hundred large scale photos depicting some of the best sights in the world from the air. A mixture of these and the lake views makes for true inspiration for travel and kept us wide mouthed for some time.

within 2 minutes of putting some 'ice talons' on we were squeezing through ice cave gaps just about big enough for children or dwarves (not lousies)..

Franz Josef Glacier
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It rained most of the way to Franz Joseph which seems to be the way for us and we were worried that our trip might be rained off as the forecast was looking bleak. Also the hostel was over-run by a load of tearaway 6-8 year olds that had parents not looking good for their duties and to top it all, the sauna was broke.....aaarrhhh. It wasn't looking good and there was only one thing to do....sleep.

The next day I(Nick) got up mega early (7.15) to see if the weather had changed which....it had. Clear blue skies meant it was looking good for a hike/ tramp so I trotted off to see what was available. Again it wasn't looking good as practically nothing was left. In fact so much so that there was only one choice........a Heli-hike (damn)!!! So it was off for another chopper session (yeahhh).

Waterfall shot at Franz
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The short 10 minute helicopter ride took us much higher on the glacier than even a full day hike would get so it meant that we would experience sights unlikely to be seen lower down. This meant within 2 minutes of putting some 'ice talons' on we were squeezing through ice cave gaps just about big enough for children or dwarves (not lousies). After some wriggling though we did get through and the pictures are amazing. After that we trotted off around the ice for another couple of hours, down crevasses, through small streams etc but yet still just above sea level and with trees on the hills around us....most strange. In fact FJ Glacier is one of only three in the world that have vegetation surrounding it and also one of the few that are currently growing despite global warming. A really enjoyable experience...

"That's where we're going..."
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The next day we tackled the glacier from the base and did a walk up to the face of it from the valley floor. Again very scenic and the scale of things really blows you away. But our affair with Franz had run its course and it was time to move on like the tarts we are.....heading for Greymouth.

On route we just had time to go up the ....Trig (Marissa will remind me of the name) - that'll be Okarita. Which turned out to be a huge hill of steps (very painful). The views at the top were quite special though with the Southern Alps on one side and the bay on the other.

"..and that's how we got there!"
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From there, Greymouth (not worth writing about - other than the great 'fush 'n' chups'), up the highway 6 to visit the Pukaki pancake rocks and blowholes (not so great in the rain unfortunately, but well worth the visit to see the formations and crazy spray!) and now Nelson which hopefully will be a night of food and wine and some walking in the sunshine.