On to Fantail Falls and Franz Josef Glacier

Fantail falls and plunge pool

It was a rainy day as we left Wanaka and headed to Franz Josef Glacier. We stopped at one of many points along the way; Fantail Falls. I've told you about Fantails. . . one of the many remarkable and particularly sweet birds of New Zealand, so of course we wanted to stop by the falls. And we needed a break. This driving is really hard going through the mountain roads. I think I've mentioned that. Anyway, it was a sweet place, and we got some lovely photos. . .

The four beauties

The Lake at Wanaka

Gravel riverbed, mountains and snowcaps

After this break, it was on to Franz Josef, where we had rented a Very Rustic Airbnb from Paul. It was, what would you say? Lightly heated, and had signs and warnings all over the place from our host. Still. We weathered it just fine. Had a meal in and a meal out, lots of fine coffee, and adjusted. And, we saw the most amazing stars at this remote place. I should mention that we have seen the Milky Way so many times in this southern hemisphere. And it's always fun to see Orion, on the horizon, upside down. Really drives it home that we're in a Whole 'Nother Place here.

Glacier explained

Waterfall on the way

Rock striations

The second day there, we tramped up to as close as one can get to the glacier. It was an amazing hike, full of grand vistas, water falls, and at the end, the glacier. The glacier has receded quite a bit in recent times. Basically, it is advancing, because that is what glaciers do, but it is also receding because of global warming. It is receding more quickly than it is advancing, and there are landmarks where it used to be, say 5 decades ago. B had asked if you could touch the glacier. The answer is "no", because it's quite unstable, and the park doesn't let you get close enough to hurt yourself. We stopped for a picnic at the closest place to the glacier, and oddly, I didn't get any photos from that close. I guess I was too busy eating and talking. Surprise, right?

Franz Josef glacier in view

Large Land

Sun and River