http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , South Island , Fox Glacier en-us Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:03:28 +0000 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:03:28 +0000 We left the sunny shores of Lake Wanaka. It was warm and had lots of sand flies so thick you breathed them in while just standing. The full moon over the lake last night was magical. We went to Puzzle world just outside Wanaka. It was fun and well worth the couple hours and laughs.. We went through the maze and Ken won collecting all the towers and getting out before Chad and Laura We staye http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-450383.html Fox October 18 21You can't go to New Zealand and not climb a glacier the only decision is which one Fox or Franz Josef We chose Fox because we had heard it wasn't as busy as Franz Josef and we had heard only good things from people who had done it.We met at the Fox Glacier Guiding building just a short stroll from the hostel because Fox is the tiniest town at 9.15am to get our gear on. We http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-450036.html On my way up the West Coast decided to stop in Fox Glacier for a day. It's a natural but it sounds great Fox Glacier the village is a tiny place it's basically just one short street with a lot of confused looking hikers wandering about. To get on the glacier itself you'd have to pay at least 100 so we decided to just do a gentle walk to the lookout point to admire from a distance. Ended up b http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-449372.html You have seen the opening picture so you know what I did. I jumped out of a plane at 12000 feet and plummeted at speeds of 120 mph 200kmh towards the earth. What possessed me to do such a thing is a question you may ask. And that is a good question. Let me try to explain how this all came to be.Living and travelling in New Zealand has given me the opportunity to meet many people. Some adventur http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-447083.html That night Oct 17th I met German guy called Fredrick who was delighted to be able to have a go on my guitar He was really good and taught me a lot of stuff particularly some great songs off 'Into The Wild'. I taught him a couple of songs too and the night seemed to fly by. There was unfortunately one of the tour bus groups in that night who were incredibly loud they seemed to be touring NZ on http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-446839.html Hi all We arrived in Picton around 9.30pm on the 27th May and drove south to Bleinheim a wine region in Marlborough. We drove around for a few hours looking for somewhere to park outside the town but with nothing but vineyards to be seen for miles we returned to the town and pulled in outside a small park. Time conscious and money poor in the morning we made our decision to cut out visiting the http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-445383.html Beating the odds and the bad weather gods yesterday we were able to do the helihike onto Fox Glacier. Mere language is vastly inadequate to try to describe the experience. First time on a helicopter first time on a glacier. First time on a helicopter that lands on a glacier Our guide Jeremy was awesome as he led us up and back down a small portion of the glacier. We spent about 3 hours on http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-439454.html a short entry this a.m. ... getting ready to go up on Fox Glacier pronounced glassier. Posting a few pics from an incredible drive to the west coast of NZ. will have to add descriptions later ... suffice to say we experienced 4 seasons in one day and the terrain and the stunning beauty of at least 4 continents. This place is truly amazing. When God was making the earth he must've had the most http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-439184.html Wednesday September 9thWe survived another night in the wild. By the time we woke the Sandflies were out in full force again. The last time we went shopping we again forgot to get repellent so we stayed in the van as much as possible and tried to keep the little buggers outside. After breakfast we left the Queenstown area heading for Wanaka a small town north of Queenstown. Graham and Rose had http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-435789.html The journey between Nelson and Franz Josef is a painstaking 9 hour trip in a minivan. Quite ridiculous really that New Zealand is considered a developed country yet every single South American country I got a bus in and yes this includes Bolivia the bus service was much better and more comfortable. Something to work on for our kiwi friends methinks. Not much to report on the journey apar http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-421319.html Fox glacier town exists purely because of the glacier down the road and the tourists that come to see it. As such it's tiny Literally only a few streets. We got a job at a hostel there. We had to make beds and clean for a few hours in the morning in exchange for our own room and also quite a bit of food. Our boss would buy us milk and bread and also gave us a lot of meat and veg that we wouldn't http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-415637.html This end of the south island wersquove had to retrace our steps back from Milford Sound to Te Anau and on to Queenstown. Just after leaving Queenstown while heading east we take a left and head north to Wanaka. Wanaka is a nice little town next to a beautiful lake with the backdrop of mountains. In spite of the weather and the fact that itrsquos off season it has a very holidayish air abou http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-407161.html Heh ho peeps and freaks and other forms of mutants who like to keep in touch with this bill bloggin flogging story post making earth shaking input that gets typed through my fingershellip If it at all ever makes any sense you are better persons than the likes of a being like me is to be able to understand ithellipSo yeah Irsquom still in bloody Bolivia when in fact Irsquove travelled http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-403693.html No dont need to pack up today as we are spending another night in Haast. Today we wake up and only pack the essentials for our day trip to Fox Glacier. The distance is only about 120kms and driving time is supposed to be 1hr 45mins but we have to get there and register for the hike etc. With our car packed with the essentials we are of quite excited in fact having never seen a glacier. We make n http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-393651.html The drive into Glacier country was pretty scenic we finally made it back to the coast after being inland for several weeks but no surfing for Matty not yet There are two big glaciers and glacier towns the FranzJosef and the slightly less touristy Fox we decided to stay in the Fox. Our first full day was a Sunday and it rained lots it was the first time we have had a Sunday experience in a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-392534.html I have done this most thriling memorable adventure in Fox Galicer.SKY DIVE from 12000ft arund 3.6km heightThe wonderfull views of tasman sea and rain forests and fox glacier from top made this moment a very beautiful one... http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-391982.html Ah ... nice area... sweet little mountain towns.Again two panoramics for you to see Gary's of Lake Matheson Jess's of Fox Glacier We climbed the glacier and walked a sweet little track to get some cool pictures.The color of the water was beautiful and we had a blast enjoysmiles Jess http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-388038.html February 2009Mimi and Gregg's Trip to the West CoastI had a great time showing my sister Mimi the great country of New Zealand. We haven't spent much time together in several years so it was a great opportunity to catch up with each other. We left after work on Tuesday and drove through fog and rain to Flock Hill a sheep station located about 35 km east of Aurther's Pass. By the time we ente http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-382657.html more photos http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-379828.html 6th March 2009 A DAY INDOORSWoke up to the sound of rain hammering it down...I thought I was back home for a second until I realised that I was sharing my room with strangers and there were no home comforts. Can't quite get used to that Our shuttle bus to take us to Fox Glacier 30 minutes away was picking us up at 10am and so we spent the morning just lazing about getting ready and having http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-379523.html