Heya,

We left the Poo Pub for our next stop along the West Coast which was Franz Josef which is a glazier town. We stopped off on the way at the Road Kill Cafe where we were introduced to hunting in New Zealand. Once we arrived in Franz Josef Matt went kayaking for about four hours, it was amazing. You kayak accross the lake which has a mirror effect with the mountain in its background. Then you go up a river on your own which is no bigger than 3 metres wide with trees hanging over you and its just silent. We went to bed early after a take away as we were up early the next day.

It was an early start again the next day as we spent the whole day climbing the glazier. After getting kitted up we headed on a coach to a national park where you had to walk 45 mins to the base of the glazier. It was the best thing weve done so far, it was brilliant. You start off in a group of 8 and your guide carves some steps in the ice to help you through differenet sections. The first bit of the ice is quite muddy as it is eroding the valley walls as it moves. Then its clear ice, you walk past holes which go down hundreds of metres and you slide throught gaps only just big enough to get through. It was quite costraphobic at times, the ice at the top is blue, its that compressed. After heading back down and back to our lodge we were shattered. Anyway gotta keep going, next stop Wanaka and Queenstown!

x