Today we left Mahinapua Hotel at 9.30am to go to Franz Josef. On the way we stopped off at the Bushman Centre in Pukekura. The centre offers an insight into how people make a living on the coast through sphagnum moss, timber milling, possum trapping and helicopter deer recovery. We got some breakfast here as well. We then headed to Franz Josef Glacier Village nestled in Westland National Park, passing numerous Kettle lakes along the way. Kettle lakes are created as glaciers retreat and leave huge chunks of ice behind that melt and form deep lakes. When we arrived in Franz Josef we stopped at the Franz Josef Glacier Guide's office to confirm tomorrow's glacial activities. There are four trips to choose from that suit all fitness levels and budgets. Gina and I are doing the full day glacier hike which is free with our Explore New Zealand cards. The cost is usually $160.00. We then went to the Alpine Adventure Centre to book a scenic helicopter ride over the Franz Josef Glacier, Mount Cook and Tasman. There was space on the 1.30pm ride. We booked a 40 minute helicopter ride and got 50% off with our Explore New Zealand cards. The cost is usually $240.00 so we only got charged $120.00. We got checked in to our hostel - Rainforest Retreat where we are staying for 2 nights and then headed back to the Alpine Adventure Centre. The helicopters hold up to 6 people so there were other people joining us. We received a safety briefing and then waited until our helicopter had landed. When it had arrived we got told that cloud was on the top of the glacier so visability wasn't very clear at that time. We had to wait 20 minutes to see if the cloud would lift but it didn't. We were told to come back at 3.30pm so Gina and I went to the supermarket and went on the internet for a bit. We went back to the Alpine Adventure Centre but the helicopter ride was still not going. We got a refund and was told to ring up at 5pm to see if anything had changed but I called at that time and the cloud was really thick over the glacier and no helicopter rides were going until tomorrow. Gina and I are doing the full day glacier hike tomorrow so we won't have time to do it then. It's a real shame as it would have been such great views in the helicopter. Stupid weather. In the evening I chilled out with Jo as we wanted to take it easy before the full day glacier hike tomorrow plus I wasn't feeling very well. Gina went to the bar with Nicole to watch the Rugby - The 'All Blacks' New Zealand team VS The 'Wombats' Australia team. New Zealand won. We have caught up with the Kiwi Experience bus in front of us which we left behind in Rotorua so we got to see Becky, Nicola, Will and Scott again. It was really good to catch up with them. They are leaving tomorrow so we will see them again in Queenstown.