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Started By
Message
re: Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike, New Zealand (Pics)
Posted on 3/5/15 at 8:14 pm to HumongousYeti
Posted on 3/5/15 at 8:14 pm to HumongousYeti
This is Franz Josef the day we were there.
I think Hawea is even more beautiful than Wakatipu. The drive down Highway 6 between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea is stunning (this is how you'd get from Franz Josef Glacier to Wanaka). It's my favorite drive in New Zealand other than the Milford Sound Highway from Te Anau to Milford Sound.
Lake Hawea
I think Hawea is even more beautiful than Wakatipu. The drive down Highway 6 between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea is stunning (this is how you'd get from Franz Josef Glacier to Wanaka). It's my favorite drive in New Zealand other than the Milford Sound Highway from Te Anau to Milford Sound.
Lake Hawea
1
Posted on 3/5/15 at 8:21 pm to just1dawg
quote:
I think Hawea is even more beautiful than Wakatipu.
It sure is! This pic was taken at the same spot you took yours.
Posted on 3/5/15 at 8:46 pm to HumongousYeti
New Zealand does a great job with scenic overlooks.
I've never landed on a glacier. In 2009 when we were on the South Island we chose to overfly the mountains in a plane because you get to see more than if you just do one glacier (which in NZ they all pronounce "glay-sere"). Last year my mother landed on a glacier/mountain (not sure) somewhere near Queenstown and when she got back said she preferred the flight over actually landing on something.
We went with Air Safaris out of their headquarters at Lake Tekapo (although you can fly out of several other airports). This flight is called The Grand Traverse.
The previous flight had 8 people in an Airvan (not a big plane, you can see its tail on the right), we got lucky and just had the thiree of us in this Cessna 206.
Lake Tekapo in the upper left.
Coming up on Mt. Aoraki, the "cloud piercer."
Also called Mt. Cook, it's the highest peak in NZ.
This was in late November (our late May), so not as much snow as you might expect.
Flying over Lake Tekapo back to Lake Tekapo. I would not recommend this flight if you're afraid of flying or get motion sick easily because it was smooth as ice cream over the mountains but downwind of them over the lake there was some pretty heavy turbulence.
I've never landed on a glacier. In 2009 when we were on the South Island we chose to overfly the mountains in a plane because you get to see more than if you just do one glacier (which in NZ they all pronounce "glay-sere"). Last year my mother landed on a glacier/mountain (not sure) somewhere near Queenstown and when she got back said she preferred the flight over actually landing on something.
We went with Air Safaris out of their headquarters at Lake Tekapo (although you can fly out of several other airports). This flight is called The Grand Traverse.
The previous flight had 8 people in an Airvan (not a big plane, you can see its tail on the right), we got lucky and just had the thiree of us in this Cessna 206.
Lake Tekapo in the upper left.
Coming up on Mt. Aoraki, the "cloud piercer."
Also called Mt. Cook, it's the highest peak in NZ.
This was in late November (our late May), so not as much snow as you might expect.
Flying over Lake Tekapo back to Lake Tekapo. I would not recommend this flight if you're afraid of flying or get motion sick easily because it was smooth as ice cream over the mountains but downwind of them over the lake there was some pretty heavy turbulence.
Posted on 3/5/15 at 8:49 pm to HumongousYeti
Hey I did that hike too! Just not with the helicopter.
Posted on 3/5/15 at 9:05 pm to just1dawg
quote:
just1dawg
Awesome pics. It's good to get another perspective with the snow.
Posted on 3/5/15 at 9:14 pm to HumongousYeti
PIIHB
Posted on 3/5/15 at 9:18 pm to HumongousYeti
My husband and I went to NZ for our honeymoon almost a year ago to the day. We did the northern part of the southern island (Christchurch, Marlborough, Abel Tasman), flew to Auckland and drove south on the north island, eventually ending up in Wellington. Trip of a lifetime. We are both itching to go back and do more of the southern island- basically the exact itinerary that you did. We were actually discussing a return trip tonight over dinner.
Did you find Christchurch depressing? The graffiti and endless piles of ruble were really sad.
Did you find Christchurch depressing? The graffiti and endless piles of ruble were really sad.
Posted on 3/5/15 at 9:35 pm to foreverLSU
quote:
Did you find Christchurch depressing? The graffiti and endless piles of ruble were really sad.
Yes, Christchurch was pretty depressing, especially as it was cloudy during my stay there, which somehow made the city more depressing as it blended with the ruble. When I was at the City Center, there was a fenced off area called the "Red Zone" where damaged buildings from the earthquake were being torn down. The buildings all had "X" marks on them like on the flooded homes during Katrina.
However, this pic made me lol and brought hope to the city.
Posted on 3/5/15 at 10:39 pm to HumongousYeti
Christchurch Cathedral in 2009 before the earthquake.
Posted on 3/5/15 at 10:46 pm to just1dawg
That's crazy. I don't have my NZ pictures on my iPad but the cathedral was still completely fenced off when I was there a year ago.
Posted on 3/5/15 at 11:39 pm to foreverLSU
I dd same hike on Franz Josef in 2008. south island is stunning.
Want to back. My friend/travel companion was not very adventurous but it was an amazing vacation
Want to back. My friend/travel companion was not very adventurous but it was an amazing vacation
Posted on 3/6/15 at 5:37 am to HumongousYeti
That isn't a beef quesadilla, it's a creampie.
Posted on 3/6/15 at 6:01 am to HumongousYeti
Very cool, what time of year did you go? Considering passing through NZ for my honeymoon next year.
ETA: nevermind, read your whole post and see it now.
ETA: nevermind, read your whole post and see it now.
This post was edited on 3/6/15 at 6:03 am
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