Franz Josef (FJ) Glacier 5th May 2006 It's a pretty long drive from Wanaka to FJ and we stop in Fox Glacier on the way for a walk around Lake Murchison and some stunning views of Mounts Cook and Tasman across the most pristine of lakes (NZ is full of these mirror like lakes). After staying in possibly the dirtiest camping ground come hostel in the world we head off for one of the highlights of the tour so far, a Heli-hike up to the Franz Josef Glacier. Ok so it was pretty expensive but man was it worth it. The day itself was beautiful clear blue skies and the helicopter ride up was superb. Just like you see on the TV all the time we flew over some ridges and the glacier appeared before our eyes. From the air you get a great impression of the size of the glacier with its rough blackened face up to it's glistening, whiter-than-white upper reaches. After circling a few times we set down on the ice and scamper out trying not to fall over and get our heads taken off by the rotor blades (ok so maybe we're not quite that tall but you can't help ducking down). For the next 3 hrs we walk around the glacier through clear blue ice crevasses and through little holes and tunnels created by the ever moving glacier. We learnt that the glacier is up to 200m thick in places and generally flows from 1 to 4m per day just like a really slow river. We had a fantastic time and it was definitely worth it, just check out some of the photos. Lots of Love Stu & Amy.