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Franz Josef Travel Blogs

Background: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

Links: Franz Josef Travel Blogs (265) | Franz Josef Travel Photos | New Zealand Travel Forum | New Zealand Facts | Map of New Zealand

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By Kyrp the Wirp
August 15th 2008

The one where Kyrsty...

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

... finally conquers it!! Hi! Not got time for a full on blow by blow account of the last 3 weeks (I know how upset everyone is by that, although you're trying to cover it by cheering), but just wanted to drop by with some edited highlights!! I spent my first few days in Auckland with Maud and her family in Auckland - thank you so much for putting me up (and putting up with me!) I had a great time and it was lovely to meet you all - see you in England soon! They showed me around, fed me [View Full Entry]

By El Scook Y Natalia
August 9th 2008

Ice and Snow

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Us On Ice
a bit like those icey versions of Disney films

Another good thing about New Zealand: long buses stop every hour and a half or so for 'comfort breaks', and if there is something interesting to see nearby, they give you a few extra minutes to go check it out. On our 9 hour bus marathon from Nelson down to Franz Josef (we're missing coche cama!) we got to stop off to see the Pancake Rocks - crazy rock formations on the coast. Far more picturesque than South Mimms service station. The rocks get their names from the fact that they are in layers and look like piles of pancakes. They [View Full Entry]

By Jason and Elliott
August 6th 2008

Photo update

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Dantooine
Saw this today (Wednesday 6th August) but Jason wont stick it in the official blog, so you can view it all here! (It's Star Wars btw)

Hello everyone, no blog in this entry (we're writing them next) but we're posting this as an entry so you get a message in your inbox's. We've moved onto Franz Joseph and found a decent set of computers, so we now have photo's for "Now this is what we're talking about..." and "Here be Dragons... I mean Whales", the last two blog entries. We also put the order back the right way around :) Enjoy! Elliott [View Full Entry]

By Jason and Elliott
August 6th 2008

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

How to stay warm at zero degrees and below

Evening all, though god knows what time it'll actually be when you read this, so just accept for the moment that is indeed an evening (it is for us, it's 6.38 here). I'm here to continue the story of our trip in the South Island. Ignoring the shitty computers we had yesterday and Jason's mini rant (to be fair, yesterday afternoon was probably the first time we both lost our cool at the same time on this holiday). Anyway, we were attempting to head to Greymouth, but the weather and damage to the road system was blocking us at every turn. [View Full Entry]

By Jason and Elliott
August 6th 2008

I could do with a slush puppy right now

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Jason at Franz Josef Glacier

You are very lucky people, you have the priviledge of hearing about the days antics before i even get chance to right about it in my journal. Hello again everyone, this is Jason typing and i am in charge of telling you about the day spent driving from Greymouth to Franz Josef, and then about the exciting Glacier walk. Right before i begin i would again like to say thanks to all of you who have left messages and comments, keep them coming. We get up every morning and look forward to getting to a computer and logging into our blog [View Full Entry]

By Daz_Crawford
August 5th 2008

Glacier Hike

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Hiking On To The Glacier

Early thismorning I arrived at the Franz Josef Glacier Hiking Centre and got kited up in thermals, waterproof cloths, walking boots, hats, gloves and ice grips. It took a while before I could find hiking gear the correct size before jumping on the bus for a 20 minute ride to the start of the trek. On the bus everyone was looking awkward. We were all fighting with our uncomfortable gear and beenie style hats while trying to figure out were to place all of the equipment we were required to carry. I kept wondering if I was wearing too much, or [View Full Entry]

By PinterSue
July 30th 2008

Eindruecke

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Doubtful Sounds

Ein paar Bilder aus Neuseeland.... [View Full Entry]

By Jake and Leslie
July 22nd 2008

Wellington to Greymouth

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Wellington Water Front
The aforementioned boat/bridge structure in Wellington

We just got to Franz Josef glacier and it's pouring outside. We've splurged on a private room at the YHA lodge so we don't have to sleep in the van. We have a lot to catch up on since we haven't had fast Internet access... this will be a long entry! After Jake's bungy jump in Taupo (see the video we uploaded today), we drove to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The architecture of the waterfront area is impressive-- they built a wooden bridge/sculpture that looks like a cross between a futuristic shantytown and a boat. Not wanting to spend [View Full Entry]

By Sarah and Phil
July 21st 2008

Wellington to Franz Josef

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Courtney, Layla and Laura

Hi everyone, Wow, time seems to be going so fast now I'm into my last month of travel. I find I'm thinking more and more of things I have to do when I get home - very scary! I went for dinner with Courtney, Laura and Layla again on the Monday night, and then I left Wellington on 15th July to come to South Island, nearly missing the ferry on the way as the hostel staff told me the wrong time for the bus to the terminal!! It was a beautiful day for the crossing of the Cook Strait, brilliant blue [View Full Entry]

By Jonandjacky
July 18th 2008

Franz Josef Glacier - Cool !!!

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Honeymooners on ice
This was us wandering around a glacier.

Having driven around 8 hours in the rain only to camp up in rain and then to hear that a lightening strike had hit the town we held out little hope of being able to do the helicopter trip onto Franz Josef Glacier that we had booked for the following day. But Mr Sunshine was truly on our side when we woke up in the morning. Having never been in a helicopter we were rather excited and it was not a disappointment, on the contrary it was so smooth, so swift Jon & I would like to use this mode of [View Full Entry]

Links: Franz Josef Travel Blogs (265) | Franz Josef Travel Photos | New Zealand Travel Forum | New Zealand Facts | Map of New Zealand

Travel Blog » Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef