Thanks to the really kind man at reception lending us his heater, we were nice and warm last night. We got a good sleep and woke up ready for our heli hike today. First we picked up our sky diving photos and video, we were hoping to put them straight onto our iPad but they saved them on a usb stick which is really annoying because the iPad doesn't recognise usb! So now we can't watch them until we go home.

We went into a convenience shop and bought some snacks to take with us, then it was time to meet our guides and get dressed in appropriate clothing for the hike. we were given boots, thick socks, water proof trousers, waterproof jacket and a bum bag! I felt like a huge weeble, but I knew it was going to keep me warm. Chris decided not to wear his coat underneath his jacket but I get cold easily so kept mine on. We were also given spikey mettle crampons to attach to the bottom of our shoes later, these were to prevent us from slipping on the snow and ice.

When we were all geared up we walked over to the heli pad which was only across the road in a field. It was a beautiful day for the hike, there wasn't one cloud in the sky but it still felt cold out. Our chopper was already there waiting for us so we all climbed in, Chris made me get in the front as it was my first time! The take off was so soft, I was surprised at how smooth the flight was. The captain dipped down once which was cool, we all felt our tummies go and the close up views of the glacier were really beautiful as we came in to land.

We expected a slight bump as the chopper landed on the glacier, but just like take off we hardly felt a thing. The noise was so loud we had to cover our ears as we climbed out and walked away, then we all got hit by a huge gust of wind as the chopper took off, spraying cold snow in our direction.

At first I felt a bit nervous about walking on the ice and snow, l thought it was going to feel slippery like ice skating, I hate ice skating! Only because I'm hopeless at it. Our guide TJ introduced himself, he was a proper dude and said the word 'bro' a lot! He told us to put our crampons on. they felt quite heavy and really gripped into the snow on each step, now I was worried I was going to go tumbling over them! TJ could tell I was acting awkward so gave us all a quick lesson in how to walk in them. First he showed us how to walk down some really icy steps! Chris practically ran down them while I looked like a struggling old lady! I held my breath hoping not to slip then breathed again once I was down. I turned around to see how everybody else did and realised I wasn't the only one.

After our quick lesson TJ took us through a crevice, it was really cool and everyone quickly got the hang of the crampons including myself. Chris was glad he didn't bring his coat as he was already feeling hot and I was boiling with all my gear on! TJ walked us through some more tighter crevices and then we climbed up and over to the other side of the glacier so we could get a different view. By then Chris was already starting to get hungry so asked me for one of our chocolate snacks I had in my bum bag. I pulled it out but it had melted so was all sticky. TJ was giving us a serious lesson about the glacier, he showed a lot of passion, and there we were scoffing our faces and licking the chocolate off of our fingers! lol.

We hiked further until we were walking on very deep soft snow. The surface appeared smooth and glistened in the sun's light, I badly wanted to make a snow angel but TJ wouldn't let me, he said the surface may look solid but the whole area was actually a hazard zone! Just below the surface were more crevices that we could easily slip into, so we had to keep to the same path as TJ. We hiked upwards towards huge waves of blue ice, there TJ explained how they were created and some other facts about the movement and the speed the glacier was moving at. To be honest we were having more fun messing about than listening to what Tj said. We had a snow ball fight with another guide on safety duty, Chris hit him a few times in the head while I kept out of sight.

Before we began our decent back down to where we started, we walked through some small caves and over some new ground that hadn't been walked on yet. We had to turn back a couple of times because Tj said it wasn't safe, we were walking across narrow edges right next to really deep crevices and then passed one really big hole. TJ walked to the edge of it to look in but wouldn't let me go near when I asked him. He was really concerned for all of our safety and so he had to be! It would be a long and difficult rescue if anyone was to fall in a crevice! Chris kept asking if we could go through some deep caves but he said it was too dangerous and he would have to have training first.

We were near the back of the group for most of the hike so we could mess around taking photos. When we caught up with the group we found them looking back waiting for us, TJ didn't always look too pleased and kept reminding us all to keep up so we wouldn't lose anyone. Then we came to a few awkward steps which I found too difficult to walk down, so instead I sat on my arse and slid down them like a child on a slide! Again TJ gave me a safety reminder that there were hard blocks of ice under the snow so I had to be careful and go slowly.

When we came to the end of our hike me and Chris saw a really long slope that other groups had obviously been sliding down. We both begged TJ to let us go down it and at first he didn't want us too but then said it was ok. So we quickly took off our crampons and raced to the top, we had just enough time to go once so we went down together.

The chopper arrived and we all got in, Me and Chris sat in the back this time. The views going back were just as amazing as flying there, we could see right out to the ocean. The flight was quick and in minutes we were back on the ground in town again. It wasn't until later that we looked back at our photos and noticed the pilot was texting on his phone while flying! We got off and walked back over to the shop to get changed then thanked the staff for a great experience. My clothes were wet from sweat, I couldn't wait to get them off! Chris wore less than me but he was soaked through too! A shower was well needed.

Back at the holiday park reception Chris picked up a heater that was couriered to us last night. It was a very small one and we couldn't feel much heat from it unless we stood within half a meter from it! We had to give the other heater back so it looks like it will be a chilly night tonight unless this thing starts working harder.

As part of our heli hike package we got free entry to some outdoor hot pools nearby. So after a hot choccy we grabbed our swim gear and made our way straight there. The sun had completely set by the time we got to the hot pools and the air was very chilly, we could see steam from the hot water rising above the centre. Once we were in and changed I met Chris who had been standing in the cold waiting for me. I felt bad because it really was freezing outside! I told him he should have just got straight in! There were three pools with different temperatures, 36, 38 and 40 degrees. Chris asked me which one I wanted to get in and without checking I stepped straight into the hottest one at 40 degrees. It wasn't too hot but it did sting my feet getting in because the floor was so cold. Poor Chris had been standing outside for longer so his feet must have really stung. It was so lovely though, we melted into the pool and relaxed as we took in the man made rainforest surrounding. It wasn't busy in there either which was nice. After ten minutes we got out and stepped into the coolest pool so we could work our way back to the hottest again. Parents with their children stayed in the cooler pool so it was a lot busier. We only lasted two minutes and skipped the second pool and went straight back to the hottest one again.

After twenty minutes I began to feel too hot and a bit bored. Chris surprisingly wanted to stay in, it's usually him that gets bored quickly. The cold air hit us as we climbed out so we rushed to the changing rooms. We went into a family changing room so we didn't have to separate our stuff, plus I think it's weird that the male and female rooms don't have private changing rooms in them.

I used the shower before Chris and left him standing out in the cold. There was a freezing cold breeze constantly blowing in from under our changing room door and Chris had been standing in it freezing his feet off the whole time lol. We switched places and I quickly covered the gap up with my towel, but it was too late, my feet already felt numb.

A little later and we were back in our camper van. We rented another DVD to watch tonight while we ate a yummy hot chicken pasta bake for dinner then climbed into bed. Our new little heater seems to be working fine now plus the camper van heater has decided to start working again so we should be pretty toasty tonight.