Day 160 - Franz Josef, New Zealand
Day 160 – 15th November 2005 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 28776
When we were all ready and breakfast was over with drove 22km south to the village of Fox Glacier, here we parked the car and walked the trail to the Fox Glacier.
Fox Glacier
The rail was a lot more uneven than the one to Franz Josef Glacier. We were constantly reminded to watch for landslides and they had areas where you are not allowed to stop. We had to cross a few streams and clamber over many rocks.
Me on the Fox Glacier Riverbed
When we reached the Glacier is was quite spectacular, it looked more impressive than Franz Josef Glacier, the colour was a more pure blue and you could hear it cracking and watch bits breaking off.
Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier
Me at the Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier
A Puddle by Fox Glacier
The return walk took just over an hour and then we drove a few kilometres down the road to Matheson Lake, the walk around the lake takes 90 minutes and there is a view of views at halfway around.
An Arty Photo near Matheson Lake
Lake Matheson is supposed to give you a fantastic view of Mount Cook as it reflects in the lake. We walked around the lake and found that the view of views path was closed, so we carried on until we reached reflection island.
Lake Matheson
Lake Matheson
Me at Lake Matheson
Unfortunately it was very cloudy and we could not see Mount Cook but we did get a good reflection of the sky. Lake Matheson also has a fantastic echo as we were walking round we heard people shouting at the other end of the lake so we shouted back and it echoed all around. When we got back to the car park we decided to stop at the café there for some food before heading back to the hostel. Back at the hostel Reece and I decided we would go and visit a nearby cave that has glow worms. So we spoke to the person in the office at the hostel and they said it is a 10 minute walk and lent us a torch. Reece and I walked up the path following the river for 40 minutes before reaching the tunnel. It was called Tatare Tunnel and looked like it was an old mine shaft.
Tatare Tunnel
Tatare Tunnel
We started walking through the tunnel doubled over as the ceiling was quite low, but there was a stream running through the tunnel and I only had my trainers on, so I could not go to far. A guy coming out of the tunnel said the water was up to his knees at the end. So I gave up but I did get to see a couple of glow worms. Reece carried on through the tunnel for another 50 metres before giving up and then we had the long walk back. That night we finished updating our blogs then in the hostel we cooked some food and sat in the TV room and watched the film Duece Bigalow. I then went to bed and finished my book.
When we were all ready and breakfast was over with drove 22km south to the village of Fox Glacier, here we parked the car and walked the trail to the Fox Glacier.
Fox Glacier
The rail was a lot more uneven than the one to Franz Josef Glacier. We were constantly reminded to watch for landslides and they had areas where you are not allowed to stop. We had to cross a few streams and clamber over many rocks.
Me on the Fox Glacier Riverbed
When we reached the Glacier is was quite spectacular, it looked more impressive than Franz Josef Glacier, the colour was a more pure blue and you could hear it cracking and watch bits breaking off.
Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier
Me at the Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier
A Puddle by Fox Glacier
The return walk took just over an hour and then we drove a few kilometres down the road to Matheson Lake, the walk around the lake takes 90 minutes and there is a view of views at halfway around.
An Arty Photo near Matheson Lake
Lake Matheson is supposed to give you a fantastic view of Mount Cook as it reflects in the lake. We walked around the lake and found that the view of views path was closed, so we carried on until we reached reflection island.
Lake Matheson
Lake Matheson
Me at Lake Matheson
Unfortunately it was very cloudy and we could not see Mount Cook but we did get a good reflection of the sky. Lake Matheson also has a fantastic echo as we were walking round we heard people shouting at the other end of the lake so we shouted back and it echoed all around. When we got back to the car park we decided to stop at the café there for some food before heading back to the hostel. Back at the hostel Reece and I decided we would go and visit a nearby cave that has glow worms. So we spoke to the person in the office at the hostel and they said it is a 10 minute walk and lent us a torch. Reece and I walked up the path following the river for 40 minutes before reaching the tunnel. It was called Tatare Tunnel and looked like it was an old mine shaft.
Tatare Tunnel
Tatare Tunnel
We started walking through the tunnel doubled over as the ceiling was quite low, but there was a stream running through the tunnel and I only had my trainers on, so I could not go to far. A guy coming out of the tunnel said the water was up to his knees at the end. So I gave up but I did get to see a couple of glow worms. Reece carried on through the tunnel for another 50 metres before giving up and then we had the long walk back. That night we finished updating our blogs then in the hostel we cooked some food and sat in the TV room and watched the film Duece Bigalow. I then went to bed and finished my book.
posted by Simon at 4:34 PM
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