Hello everyone!

We set off on our journey to Franz Josef from Richmond, it was quite a long way so we thought we'd break it up and take 2 days to get there seeing a couple of other towns on the way- a decision that we wish we hadn't made looking back!!

We arrived in Westport around lunch time on the Tuesday and upon turning the campervan round we had a slight collision with a parked car! Matt accidently hit the bumper and the tail light. At the time we didn't realise anything had happened and so casually drove off to the beach area to have our lunch! Unfortunately the car we hit was the law inforcer from the council and he had police friends and we got followed all the way by a police car!! Things didn't get any better when the guy we hit got a quote and it was over $900 we had to cough up. So if anyone has any spare cash lying around please send it this way!!

After the accident we drove to Greymouth and camped there for the night, we were all in a somber mood after we worked out and realised we were already way over budget and had a crash to pay for!!

Wednesday morning we continued our drive to Franz Josef and arrived around early afternoon time. Carol and I had a lazy afternoon watching a bit of tv while Matt and Mark headed into town. In the evening we booked our hike for the glacier. There are 2 is very close proxemity to each other; Franz Josef Glacier & The Fox Glacier. We couldn't get through to the Franz Josef booking office so we booked to go on the Fox Glacier. We had an early night ready for the next morning.

Thursday and we got up early and drove to the Fox Glacier. We got our hiking equipment and got taken up to the start of the glacier by a small coach. We arrived around 9.15am and began the hike up the mountain side to get to the opening of the glacier. the brochure said you needed to be of moderate fitness and well I realised I am unfit! I nearly died walking up, it was an uphill gradient which wasn't too steep but there were over 600 steps as well! It took us well over an hour to get to the top but when we were there the views were worth the sweating and the pain! We put on our crampons which were spikes for the middle of our boots to give us extra grip on the ice and set off walking on the ice. The guides had already carved in a path way for us and steps to follow. It was a really surreal environment with mountains and forrest around us while we were walking on an enormous glacier. We spent just over an hour on the ice before we set off walking back down the mountain. The ice was amazing and one of the best things we have done on our trip so far, definately something i'd recommned everyone who comes here to do. It took us a lot less time walking down than it took us to walk up the mountain!!

We arrived back to the campervan around 1pm ish and we set off on our drive to lake Matheson. It was really beautiful but unfortunately half way round the lake it started to rain! Carol and I did the walk around the lake while Matt had a nap in the van! We then set off driving to Haast where we spent the night in a campsite on our way to Wanaka.

We'll give you an update when we get there, so until then bye

Liz & Cazza

xxxx