Franz Joseph Glacier

Rain stopped enough to get the tent packed away, cook some breakfast then take a 'bath' in the surprisingly warm lake (just after seeing 2 large eels swim past - backpacker life! You just have to ignore the other campers while undertaking such necessities). A short drive continuing south to Franz Joseph and glacier country. The rivers have changed colour to that glacial blue / grey colour and are very cold and flat lands suddenly give way to hills rising steaply up, covered in dense forest. We were lucky with the weather while we went for a walk up the glacial moraine towards to end of Franz Joseph glacier. It's unbelievable how much the glacier has retreated in the last 12 years. A recent fracture in the now unsupported rock, since the glacier isn't holding it up, has closed the path towards the end as a huge rock fall is imminent. Had a nice treat of scones given to us by a man with a basket full from a local cafe back at the busy campsite, mmmm. Another example of NZ hospitality.Read more