Franz Josef Glacier Walk, NZ

After our exhausting hike through Abel Tasman we decided we had earned an easy morning and treated ourselves to breakfast in Nelson before heading out of town toward the Franz Josef Glacier. Given our late start we knew we wouldn't make it all the way in one evening so we decided to stop over in Greymouth along the west coast of the island. NZ's west coast is one of the most scenic drives with cliffs meeting ocean in a dramatic way which made our time spent in the car a delight. We made it to Greymouth early that evening and found a camper site to plug into for the night. We've taken to using van sites regularly in the south island as it is much colder (down to 2-3 degrees Celsius some evenings) and the sites allow us to plug in a heater which runs through the night. Parking at a site also gives us access to hot showers and a communal kitchen. Every site has its own uniqueness and amenities - not to mention levels of cleanliness. This evening in Greymouth we were in a clean spot and thrilled to have access to a kitchen. Once we settled, Matt made up a mean stir fry and then we hit the hay.

We left early the next morning for the rest of the drive to Franz Josef and had another pleasant drive through the mountains. We pulled into the Franz Josef township mid-day and went directly to the tourist information center to find out about booking a hike up. Once we arrived we discovered that rain was forecast for the next two days so we decided to quickly jump onto a tour that would leave that afternoon for the glacier. While we weren't planning on hiking that afternoon the idea of hiking on the ice in the rain (very very cold rain) was not all that appealing. We quickly went back to the van and pulled out our warmest gear (long undies, sweaters, hat, gloves, fleece, rain jacket, wool socks) and headed to the meeting spot where we would get additional wool socks, pull over pants, jacket, hats, and boots with ice talons. Pretty sweet. After completing our outfits we boarded a bus for the ten minute drive to the Westland Tai Poutini National Park where our group would depart for the glacier.

A quick but essential lesson on NZ's glaciers is necessary here. NZ is home to over 3,000 glaciers which is defined is an ice mass of at least 100 metres which is slowly flowing over a land mass. They are formed from compacted snow in an area where snow accumulation exceeds melting. The Franz Josef Glacier is unique as it cuts through a glacial valley and rests in the middle of a rain forest. It is approximately 7,000 years old and extends 12 kilometres from its three feeder glaciers in the high snow fields of the Southern Alps. They are formed from a combination of hot and cold wind as well as the extreme moisture of the area. The snow fall on them is compacted into ice which actually appears blue.

The Franz Josef glacier is quite stunning and the blue ice made for great photos. We had to get used to the new ice talons attached to our feet along with the steep stairs carved into the ice by our guides. The views, however, were remarkable and we were allowed to dredge through a couple of crevasses and glacier puddles. Super cold but well worth the hike.

Exhausted after another day of hiking and cold, we booked into a hostel again that evening and made use of the heater and kitchen. At the Rainforest Motor Lodge we encountered some of our first Americans (number four and five to be exact) since leaving the States. We had a good time swapping stories and playing cards with Jay and Dane. The next morning we would head further south to Queenstown for some more activity. Time seems to be flying by!!
Click HERE for more pics and HERE for an online video of the glacier experience taken by someone else.