ANA AND ANDY, QUEENSTOWN, FRANZ JOSEF, ARTHURS PASS AND HANMER SPRINGS. NEW ZEALAND 8 SEPT 2014

Once we'd packed up in Milford Sound we headed back on the rd to Queenstown.

Arriving in Queenstown was like arriving in a massive city. Lots of queues and busy streets but a tiny place! Very odd. We checked into an overpriced campsite for the eve and headed out to explore and see what Queenstown had to offer. 

Beautiful Queenstown by day

...and as the sun is going down

After a quick walk and explore we figured that we'd need to move on pretty quickly to catch the good weather for our planned Heli Hike on Franz Josef Glacier. So we packed up the next morning and got back on the rd to Franz Josef! 

Our view from the campsite at Franz Josef, not bad eh?

We'd been recommended a Heli Hike by a few people and plumped for a 3hr trek and helicopter flight on Franz Josef- the worlds largest commercially trekked glacier. A pricy experience so we were hoping for good weather and an unforgettable experience. We were not disappointed! We were given the all clear to get into our climbing gear and wait for our helicopter pilot! 

Can you spot which one is me? No, didn't think so!

There's our chariot!

I ended up in the front seat next to the pilot and Andy jumped in behind. Bit of a squeeze as there were 6 of us in the tiny copter to the top of the glacier! Was my first time in a helicopter and absolutely loved it! Short and sweet :)

Once we were all on the glacier our guide got us to pop our crampons on. Our guide was a young lad from the UK who has been taking clients up onto the glacier for a couple of years. A really nice guy who put a lot of effort into ice axing his way around the glacier! We walked for a couple of hours in and out of crevasses and up and down glacial steps and I even got to have a go on the ice axe :) After the walk it was time to head back down in the helicopter and get our feet on solid ground!

So this way first?

From the helicopter onto the ice

Andy getting into ice climber mode

The professional in action

N-ICE and smiley.... see what I did there?

Making a path for the rest of the ice climbers!

'I'm Andy Rotton... get me outta here'

Igloo

I was hoping to get a job as an ice guide so was trying out the kir

Heli-selfie on the way down...

As part of our experience they included entry to the local hot springs! So after climbing around the ice we spent the afternoon relaxing in the springs with pools up to 38 degrees- toasty! 

We continued along the coast to Hokitika and Greymouth and stopped off to explore before driving inland to Arthur's Pass.

Hokitika highlight :)

Greymouth, says it as it is...

The plan was to stay in Arthur's pass for a few days to walk and explore but the weather had other ideas. We'd been really lucky until now and suddenly were halted by a big rain and wind storm. So we spent a rainy night in Arthur's Pass and moved on the next day. This time we had an extra passenger! Andy had agreed to take a lad who was walking and hitchhiking to his next stop. So we dropped him in the middle of what seemed to be nowhere and continued onto Hanmer Springs.

The evening before the rain came at Arthurs Pass, yes the campsite was next to the railway line!

Rainy Arthurs Pass

This Kea is trying to hide from all those who pull over at the scenic lookout by trying to blend in... 

Hanmer was beautiful, once we got there!  We planned to stay at the DoC campsite which was only a few miles out of town.  We drove for around an hour up and along a gravel path and were still not at the site, so decided to do a U-turn and head back into the town.   The main attraction was the hot springs so we bought a day pass and went in the morning and again at night. Stopping over in a holiday park and enjoying the pub in the town we had a good time relaxing here.

Blurry but these are the hot springs at night

Relaxing walk to get a view across Hanmer before getting back on the road