We fly high over the Southern Alps

 January 16th

Oh, what a wonderful sight, first light and only wispy clouds seen. We had massive hopes that finally our bad luck trying to fly over Franz Josef and Fox Glacier had ended. 

The first of the helicopters took off at 6.45 am, the view they would get would be amazing. We wished we had agreed to that early flight, but stupidly we took the 10.15 am instead. So we were showered, dressed, breakfasted and ready to go, and that excited the hours couldn't go quick enough.

Check in at the Glacier Country Helicopters was for 9.45 am and in our eagerness we arrived at 9.30. The formalities done, (paid) and safety brief watched on the TV screen, a 10 seater mini bus filled to capacity took us all to the small airfield. Two flights going at the same time, ours boarded first and with 4 other passengers also on the Ultimate Explorer. The route would take us to Franz Josef, Fox and Tasman Glaciers, Southern Alps and the Main Divide, Mt Cook and Mt Tasman which  also included a 15-minute snow landing. We all took our seats. I was window side, Ian in the middle, we would swap places after that snow landing.

 Securely belted and headphones on, away we went. I have to say I was not sure what to expect having only once been in a helicopter when in my 20s, and that was just for 10 minutes. Ian having worked on the Oil Rigs out in the North Sea was a seasoned flyer and very much at home in the helicopter.

It was amazing, cloud was starting to form but that didn't detract from an amazing experience. The only downside was coming to land back at the airstrip. I couldn't equalise my ears and consequently the right ear was so very painful I could hardly concentrate. Even now it's still not quite right although there was a considerable improvement as the day went by.

So photos, lots of them. A video of a panoramic view at the snow landing site, as well as the take-off from there and I even managed to video the landing back at base even with that awful ear ache.

Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef from the top

Some deep crevasses.

Mt Tasman and Mt Cook. Fox Glacier in the foreground (Ian's photo)

The cloud was starting to build up

We came away with the biggest grins on our faces, what could possibly beat that experience? Back in the Toy we drove towards Fox Glacier Township. Matheson Mirror Lake was nearby, it was supposed to reveal reflections of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman as long as not a ripple broke the surface. We arrived mid afternoon, the wind had picked up so that idea was abandoned for today. Instead we continued to Gillespie Beach roughly 12 km down a gravel road. We had a bit of a hold up....sheep the full width of the road. They were running hell for leather followed closely by the farmer on his quad bike.

 Gillespie beach was a DOC site. What a great place to stay and so close to the beach too. In fact after setting up camp the cossies went on, not to swim, still ever mindful of that strong undertow along the West coast, but to do a spot of sunbathing. A lovely way to relax and reflect on what was a brilliant day.