Today, we explored the local glaciers. In the morning, we went to the lookout of Franz Josef Glacier and then walked to Peter's Pool, a kettle drum pond, which reflected the glacier valley (the glacier had receded behind the ridge).
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| Peter's Pool |
After lunch, we ventured further afield to Fox Glacier and walked about 30 minutes to the terminal face of the glacier (about 200 m away). The river of of melting ice was an unusual cloudy grey colour from the rock dust that the glacier has caused as it moves along the valley. It was sad to see how far the glaciers have retreated/shrunk since CK and HM visited over 20 years ago - about 2 km for the Fox Glacier! Next stop was to the fa mouse Lake Matheson which is renowned for the reflection of Mt Cook against the dark waters of the lake. Unfortunately, there was a bit of breeze and the water was rippled, so we didn't get the reflective view.
Later that evening, at about 9.30 pm(doesn't get dark till after 10 pm) we ventured out with torches and jackets over our PJs to check out a local forest walk where glow worms can be found. It didn't take long to find once it got dark enough. They looked magical and like tiny fairy lights twinkling,
Highlights:
MK: Franz Josef Glacier. It is amazing how much the glaciers have retreated.
MJ: Not having to walk all the way around Lake Matheson since it was windy and mum wouldn't get a good photo of the Lake being really still and reflective.
MH: Glow worms. What if you get a glow worm, does it stop glowing?
Logbook:
09:00 (739 km) Breakfast of toast and nutella and egg.
10:25 (739 km) Left Holiday Park.
10:40 (746 km) Franz Josef Glacier. Short walk to view point.
11:36 (746 km) Peter's Pool. See the reflection of Franz Josef Glacier.
12:12 (752 km) Lunch of toasted sandwiches.
13:10 (752 km) Left Holiday Park.
13:45 (782 km) Fox Glacier. Drove to view point and took photos.
14:22 (789 km) Drove to Fox Glacier walking trail. The glacier has retreated significantly over the last few years. Still looks very impressive.
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| Fox Glacier in the back - looks dirty as it's covered by rocks etc |
15:42 (799 km) Lake Matheson. It was a 1.5 hour walk around the lake to get a good reflective photo of Mt Cook. However, it was quite windy and so it was not a good time for a reflective photo. We went to the jetty to take some photos. Lucky we didn't walk all the way around.
16:40 (804 km) Fill up.
17:18 (829 km) Back to Holiday Park. Dinner of sausages, steak, cabbage and broccoli.
21:25 (831 km) Terrace Walk. Saw glow worms along the walk. Got some good photos of the glow worms, wanna see?
22:05 (833 km) Holiday Park.