Day4:
Hokitika – Whataroa River (120km)

We woke up in a department of conservation (DOC) campsite next to Lake Mahinapua and did a 2km walk down to swimmers point. Here the lake mirrored the mountains and clouds, looking beautiful in the morning sun.

After this we walked around the small town of Hokitika. I liked the town, stocking up on wiskey and coke, however my friend Colin described it as an 'open prison' (lol).

We drove further south along some stunning roads, stopping at a viewpoint overlooking the coast for 2hours, then onto a free camping spot next to the Whataroa River.

Day5:
Whataroa River – MacDonld Creek – Frans Josef (60km)


After breakfast a helicopter landed 30meters from our campervan. The place we'd parked the night before was also the departing location for the Scenic Flights helicopter tours. We enquired about the prices and decided to do the 17minute tour, taking us along the Whataroa River valley up to the Butler mountain range (2000m), providing amazing views over the glaciers and snow topped peaks. This was my first time in a helicopter and it was unnerving taking off and ascending over 2000m in the very small, shaky helicopter, whilst sitting leg to leg with the pilot. The helicopter flew extremely close to the mountain tops and glacier, adding to the exciting experience. As it was a very clear day we we also able to view Mount Cook (highest mountain in NZ, 3800m).

We then continued south driving to MacDonld Creek, just outside of Frans Josef. Here we spotted a white heron and had amazing views over the lake.

We arrived in Frans Josef late afternoon, had a look around town and did a small 4km walk. My friend Colin checked into a motel for some additional comfort and I went back to MacDonld Creek to spend the night in the campervan.

Day6:
Frans Josef – Fox Glacier (50km)

 
I did a half day guided hike on the Frans Josef glacier. After kitting up, a tour bus took us close to the glacier. It was then a 2km hike to the glacier front where we put on crampons. After a steep ascent we reached the glacier. It took a while to get used to the crampons as your mind was telling you to step very carefully. The glacier surface was incredible to hike on. It wasn't a flat, instead a extremely varied landscape, with beautiful white, blue and black ice. We hiked up ice slops, down step ice staircases holding ropes, inbetween cracks in the huge ice blocks, through ice tunnels and
jumped over cracks descending into blackness. The tour guide often went ahead, cutting up new steps with a ice-pix. It was great experience. Also met 2 really nice Americans on the tour, Paul and Francis.
 
In the afternoon we went to the thermal pools, 3 pools contains 36, 38 and 40 degree natural water then drove to Fox Glacier. Here we did a 1 ½ hour walk around Lake Mathesons. The lake didn't have a single ripple and acted as a perfect mirror.