finding Franz

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Franz Josef Glazier its on the west cost of NZ is one of three unique glaziers in the world- the other being 20 mins down the road and the 3rd in Argentina. What is so unique is that the glazier is not in a cold area rather a rainforest tropical one in NZ. The Southern Alps mountains receive so much rain and when it settles on the top of the mountain it settles as snow. This then compacts as ice and slides down the mountain like a river- it is actually flowing!

So we booked our guided hike with some trepidation as this was one of the highlights for me and would it live up. The photos show it did, 7 hours hiking on snow, crawling through crevasses and climbing through naturally made tunnels. The day is completed with a session in the local hot pools- heaven on earth.

We then left Franz and did the drive to Wanaka calling at waterfalls and Lakes Wanaka and Haweas. And almost forgetting Lake Matheson, the iconic picture postcard view of NZ- the still lake reflecting Mount Cook,

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