Ice-citing times
Another first . Today was our Ice Explorer experience ...helicopter ride up to the middle of the Franz Josef Glacier, then hiking across the glacier with crampons ...marvelling at all the amazing ice sculptures. This is a glacier that moves at least 1.5 meters per day down the valley. Really amazing...it changes all the time, every visit is different due to the rivers created by the melting ice. Such an incredible environment. Again the power of nature in terms of the force of water and ice is incredible. The whole area looks like a quarry ...rocks ground naturally by the movement of the glacier.
A cloudbank came in, but luckily did not dip down too low, so that the trip would be cancelled due to the helicopters not flying through the clouds. The helicopter flight was short but fun and scenic. It was rather chilly on the Glacier, but being well equipped by the tour company, this was not a problem at all.
I feel very blessed to have been able to experience this forever changing landscape. Since 2008 the Franz Josef Glacier has retreated by 1.5 kms and reduced by 40m in height. Rather interesting statistics.
Walking in this continuously changing and developing ice-sculpture was definately a once in a lifetime experience.
The afternoon we spent relaxing in the hot glacier pools in the Rainforest Glacier pools - 3 pools with varying temperatures of 36, 38 and 40 degrees, set in a lush rainforest setting. Quite incredible what difference just 2 degrees makes. So relaxing and indulgent !
Enjoying the Rainforest Retreat Holiday Park, definately the prettiest of the holiday parks we have stayed at.
Working our way through some New Zealand Red Wines ....not bad at all !