New Zealand’s great glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox make their visitors feel exceptionally small. The Franz Josef (Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere in Māori) is a 12 km (7.5 mi) long glacier located on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km (12 mi) to the south, it is unique in descending from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level, amidst the greenery and lushness of a temperate rainforest.
Walking up to the glaciers was very easily done, and we were greatly rewarded. I have walked glaciers in several countries in Europe – but these two are the most remarkable ones of all. Imagine the rainforest coming down almost to the floor of the glacier, and you could touch them both from the path!
The photos show the scale very clearly, but the feeling of walking there is impossible to convey…you have to be there yourself.
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Your head image …. says it all. I was struggling with this topic. I,m a big NZ fan too.
I think many of us are!
The sheer scale in your images is incredible. I’ve never seen a glacier in person, it’s something that perhaps one day my husband and I will have the great pleasure – loved this post.
Thank you, Mary. It’s really a fantastic feeling walking there. Being small in the cool fresh air. Hope you will go one day!
The folks walking back up the steep rocky embankment seems as though it’s not as steep as it appears. But the hillsides suggest something totally different. Love your photographs of the countryside, gives us all a real sense of your side of the globe.
Ha, I think I wrote a reply that was in regard to the steep incline – ops!
…!
Did you see all those tiny people in the pictures? Incredible.
Yes, that’s what I was wondering about on another post. Is the path area where the people are walking, is it that steep? They all seem to be meandering back up. But seeing the sheer steepness of the hillsides I got to think that it’s right up there with being a challenging walk. Pretty incredible place ~
It is!
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Your photographs are gorgeous!
Thank you very much! NZ is a gorgeous country.
It is indeed. I went when I was quite young and way before The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy happened. I’ll definitely go back and Matamata is on my list of places to go. =)
Hopefully we will see some recordings of that adventure!
When I go there and back again, I will definitely blog about it =P
Awesome images! 🙂
😀
Wonderful example of scale. Reminds me of the time I was there as a child. I felt very small, and, indeed, a little scared.
I can understand that. I didn’t see many children there though – only teenagers and upwards. A wonderful area.
My goodness! It’s VAST!!
But easily reached – not like in Europe. And the amazing jungle coexisting – amazing!
A great experience for you, Ann Christine 🙂
It certainly was. But, I want to go back for Stewart Island – we missed that. And the keas…only saw one of them in the mountains. Marvellous birds.
So will you go back??
Yes, probably 2016 or 2017. First we are planning Burma.
Oh, wow! I must say I am envious…. Due to my health, there are some places I have decided it would be prudent not to risk….
You have to be wise about that – there’s only one Sue! I cannot walk downhills on stony ground any more because of a bad knee. So climing mountains is not advisable anymore.
Only one Sue! I like that, Leya! But yes, I wouldn’t want to be in a hospital in some countries…..
Wow. Amazing. What a grand sight. You must have certainly felt very small there. As tiny as a pea 🙂
I love being a pea. Makes me understand my insignificance here on planet Earth.
wow!!!
😀 Love NZ!
Some great shots here, Ann-Christine !
Lovely country, NZ. Still got Australia to go to…
We’re here, and waiting.
When the time is right, I will announce my journey…
I have started holding my breath, Ann-Christine; a retired teacher can have so many directions in whiich to travel. 😀
He, he – true enough! First Burma I think, and then southward bound!
Definitely holding it …
…and try to breath for a year or two – then I’ll be on my way!
Wow, what a great hike. Great photo for the theme.
Thank you. I wouldn’t mind going there again…
Perfect scale !
Thank you!
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Excellent choice for this week’s challenge. I’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand.
You just have to! Wonderful people and magnificent nature.