After leaving Greymouth and some witty banter from Kane our Kiwi driver we headed off to the Bushman Centre. This was basically and man's man's place where animal skin lined the chairs and hunting was the sport of the day! After an intro from the guy who ran the place it was off into the 'Museum' section. After a short video of men jumping out of helicopters onto deers backs and wrestling them down to the floor we all sufficiently felt like little boys, it was time to check out the rest of the crazy stuff. Matt had been given the task of feeding the wild pig. Bloody hell that thing is massive and supposedly bloody dangerous. Matt, after being instructed by the owner of the place to hold the bread in the air to make the pig sit before climbing over the barrier and feeding it bit by bit, showed us all his nerve by throwing the bread over the top of the fence and letting it eat off the floor. Ballsy. A few more bits of banter with a water spray and it was time for breaky. All fed up it was off to Franz Joseph to once again call on our peak physical fitness and climb a glacier.

On our way in to Franz we stopped off to see the bad boy we would be tackling. From a distance it didn't look too hard...... Then it was off into the centre to sign up for the hike. Afterwards we checked into the Rainforest Retreat. This place was packing both a sauna and a jacuzzi. Tough life. After a mountaineers dinner of steak and mash we hit the bar for a quiet one as we had a big day ahead. Now when we say quiet we won't mention names but Jack started by saying quote on quote 'i'm not having anymore than six pints'. An underestimation by any means as the egg chasers proceeded to put down a quiet 8 for the evening. Not exactly a detox. Up bright and early it was time to get geared up. Luke, James and Chris all managed to don gear they didn't know they had (all the gear no idea) and it was off to get kitted out. Waterproof jacket, boots hat, gloves and crampons were handed out then it was off to the Glacier. Once we arrived the what looked to be a short walk to the start of the ice actually turned out to be a 2km trek. this was over bloody massive rock using all sorts of ladders and ropes. Once at the foot of the glacier it was crampons on time and split into groups. Team 1 with Matt, Luke and James headed off first whilst Team 2 with Jack, Andy and Chris headed off second. It was pretty full on to start with. Bit of a steep climb but nothing too serious. It was weird walking on the ice but great fun. Lots of ice ladders to climb and holes to avoid. Both teams took a similar root and both had to go through a tight ice crack. Team 1 went through first with Matt thinking he was going to have to dislocate his hips to get through. Not good news for Jack and Andy who make Matt look like Mr Muscle (the one off the adverts). In team 2 we were also packing a girl with a broken arm which did not help the cause. After a friendly push from Chris to get her through the ice (he probably should have introduced himself first) it was time for the two big boys. Now not knowing if this gap had shrunk Chris squeezed through whilst Jack and Andy went for the old 'don't worry the ice will melt around me before i get stuck' tactic which after a little bit of pushing worked. they were soaked though. A brief stop for lunch and it was off for some more exploring. Blue ice was to be seen and then it was time for the highlight. A perfectly formed ice cave to walk through. Amazing. After a great day of hiking and all having experienced something they had never done before it was time to go home, thoroughly impressed with their own days work!

Back at the Rainforest Andy and Chris went for some sauna action with john the Irish chap (it's not gay) before hitting the bar for a well earned dinner. A few wine gums later and not wanting to force the issue (despite trying) we retired for the evening. Queenstown aka the Holy Grail was now firmly on people's minds.