Glacier Walk on Franz Josef

We were rapidly learning that driving around the South Island of New Zealand was taking a lot longer than we expected. When looking on a map, distances appear shorter than in reality because the roads are rarely straight and forever winding up and down hills or mountains. The slow speeds of our campervan did not help matters (80-85 kph or 90 kph downhill!). The drive from Central Otago to Franz Josef was certainly one of our longer stints, but it was one of the most scenic as we passed many more of the Southern Lakes on our way to the coast. We arrived into Franz Josef shortly before dusk, tired and weary after a day of cycling and driving. Time for an early night!

Overall the weather in New Zealand had been kind to us, but we got really lucky in Franz. We were doing a day long hike on the Franz Josef Glacier the following morning. Our guides explained that this was the first day of fine weather in weeks. The glaciers in New Zealand are very special because the air temperature is so warm, it's due to the sheer volume of rain (snow at the top of the glacier) that generates the glacier.

Our guide, a Danish girl, was great and explained a lot about the glaciers and navigated us a fair few kilometres up the glacier. The glacier is slowly moving every day but it was fascinating to know that when Jonny (my bro) was on the same glacier a few years ago the glacier was much longer. I look forward to comparing photos. Speaking of which, we took so many snaps it is going to take ages to sort through them!

Wearing crampons was another new experience for both us.  They feel a bit wierd at first but you quickly feel invincible stomping around on the ice. We were treated to walking down into an ice cave and what can only be described as an ice tunnel. Both formations are created by the melting water running down the glacier.