Sunday - Today we drove from 'Wanaka' to Glacier country. We left at 11am and took "Route 84" and then "Route 6" up to 'Haast'. The drive was spectacular! We followed "Lake Wanaka" and then "Lake Hawea" appeared along the side of the road, backed by the snowy mountains of the "Young range". After an hour we stopped at "Blue Pools" and they were pretty amazing. You walked through a beech forest, over a swing bridge to the destinctive icey blue river and pools. After enjoying the pools we drove on to "Thunder Creek Falls" near the "Haast River". When we reached 'Haast' we decided to visit the beach, this is where the coastline meets the "Tasmin Sea". Then we had a slight problem, the car got stuck in the sand and we had to create a ramp to push the car on to - luckily people came along to help! Back on our way again we reached "Knights Point" which had a superb view over the sea and provided a great sunset. Then as we neared the 'Fox Glacier' the sky turned pink and formed a background to the mountains and the Glacier. We checked into "Ivory Towers" in 'Fox Glacier' town and got a really nice dorm for $22. The hostel is very clean and warm, with a TV room and lots of communal areas. Monday - Today we got up and decided to explore 'Fox Glacier' town and the nearby areas as our Glacier walk is tomorrow. We drove up to 'Franz Josef' and looked at the glacier which was a sheer ice form that had been driven down the valley between two mountains. Then we drove to "Lake Matheson", round some very scarey bends, which was georgeous! We did the 1h30 walk around the lake and stopped at the lookouts where you could see the reflections of the mountains and hills in the water. We also caught sunset, WOW! Tuesday - Today we were up early to join our 9.15am trip onto "Fox Glacier". We signed in at "Alpine Guides" and paid $85 for the whole trip! Then we were called through to get our gear and meet the group and guides. I borrowed walking boots, an extra fleece and a raincoat - lots of clothes due to the freezing temperatures on the glacier. We also got our "crampons", spikes, that we needed to walk on the glacier ice. Once we were all togged up we got the bus to the glacier car park. Neeley and I were then put in a group of 8, with team leader and guide Brian. Then we attached our crampons to our bags and set off. It was 2km to the base of the glacier, along a quite steep rocky mountain and then rockface at the side of the glacier. Then we had to put on our hard hats (due to loose rock from above) to desend to the glacier. At the edge of the ice we put on the "crampons", whcih was very difficult to do! It rained all day and we got soaking wet, but it did not spoil the experience. We then started the walk on the glacier, it was quite easy to walk on the ice with the "crampons" on - although a few times you lost your balance. We climbed the axe carved steps right onto the top of the glacier and it was stunning. All the sharp blues and whites shone on the ice, through the rain. We walked for 4km on the glacier, past ravines, ice caves, ice roofs and crevices. Then after a bite to eat the group decided to push on despite the weather. I climbed down a small ice cave and also slid through a crevice in the ice, it was so fun!! After a 6km walk on the galcier we desended down back to the car park. Brian our guide was really good, he took us to lots of interesting places on the glacier and told us the history and forming details on glaciers. On the way back we walked along the river bed in front of the glacier - you could se where it had moved from/to over the years (it was quite dangerous, as the ice was not too stable!). That was one of the most amazing things that I have ever done, it was superb!! When we got into 'Fox Glacier' town Neeley and I showered and then left on the 3h drive to 'Greymouth'. After a 3h drive on very bendy mountain roads we reached 'Greymouth' and checked into "Nepune Backpackers". $20 and was great, massive TV room, big bedrooms, good kitchen! We then fell asleep as we were really tired! Wednesday - Today we drove to 'Kaikora'.