We set off early this morning - we've certainly lucked out with weather, another beautiful day !

Check out the photos ! An truly picture postcard drive up across the Southern Alps. For once I wasn't too upset for the numerous stops we had to make for our "travele sicky" Jake. Hence the numerous photo opportunities. I am sure his sicky moments were really a ploy to sit in the front seat and wear Dad's hat !

We passed by numerous ski club fields - Porter heights, Mt Cheeseman, Craigieburn and Temple Basin. The ski terrain up there looked pretty cool - maybe next visit we'll ski there ! You have to look pretty closely as they are very easy to miss - only a couple of tows high up on the mountainside and quite a drive from the road.

At the top of the Arthurs pass, we arranged to meet sis Emma and family, who'd flown in from Sydney. What a cool place to meet ! The Rowe cousins had never seen snow before and were in awe.

A drive down the pass to the west coast where we drove through some old mining villages and past some pretty impressive surf. As the road dips inland a bit you go through rainforest and yet can still see the snowcapped mountains and the sea - weird !

We arrived at Franz Josef in time for a hike up to the glacier. Apparently if you into glaciers then you will be suffering glacier envy at the thought that we are here. This is quite a mighty glacier and apparently is moving 10x faster than its swiss comparison. The photos don't really do it justice.

Off on a heli ride to the top tomorrow am .. fingers crossed the weather doesn't let us down !