Took the 1 1/2 return walk to the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier. You can walk on the glaciers, but you have to take a guided tour. I'm sure we'll come back to take the tour when the weather is better. We drove down to the view point overlooking Fox Glacier, but didn't do the walk as it was chucking it down.
There are over 60 glaciers in New Zealand and Fox and Franz Josef are the 2 most popular ones. They are unique in that nowhere else in the world, at this latitude, have glaciers advanced so close to the sea. They are basically massive rivers of ice that advance down the mountain at a rate of 1.5 metres per day. They are huge, natural wonders and have to be seen to be believed.
We headed back up the coast to Hokitika, to stop at Jacquie Grants Eco World to check out the sharks, eels, possums and very cool kiwis. Unfortunately didn't get any photos as they don't like lights, but it was cool to see them scurrying around.
Next was Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks and blowholes before ending up in Westport.
Good day shame about the weather.
