Just 2 nights at Franz Josef and then 2 nights in Christchurch and then a 36 hour journey back to Manchester.

We had breakfast, packed and left Wanaka. We travelled north on SH6 with Lake Hawea on our right, the road then turned east and we had Lake Wanaka on our left. We had to stop for over 10 minutes at one point as the road crew were out clearing a rockfall, several of the rocks were car sized and had bounced on the road and then demolished the crash barrier. The road continued north through Makaroa and then turned east through the Haast Pass to Haast Township where we stopped for coffee and then to Haast Junction where we filled up with petrol as it was the last opportunity for 120km. We then got held up for 15 minutes due to a road crew repairing a single lane bridge. From Haast we were travelling north right next to the coast before turning back inland to more lusher countryside.

We turned off Fox Glacier to have lunch at a recommended cafe, OK but I wouldn't recommend the detour as being worth it. On the road to it we passed a motel called Mount Cook View which is only about 20km away, we just glimpsed the peak through the clouds as we travelled up to Franz Josef.

We arrived at Franz Josef around 15.15, not a big place and dominated by a number of helicopter companies offering flights and hikes etc. There seems to a helicopter taking off or landing every 10 minutes or so. The hotel is OK, nothing special but it has everything we need.

As the crow flies this hotel is 25km from where we stayed at Mount Cook but its a 500 km drive which would take at least 6 hours.

After checking in, dumping the bags and having a cup of tea we went to re-confirm our heli-hike for the morning, they provide waterproofs and boots, walking poles and crampons. We also had a drink as it was happy-hour, although no where does 2 for 1 they just have slightly cheaper drinks. With beer at £7 a pint any saving is gratefully received! There is a small supermarket which seems to sell the essentials.

We went to the local brewery for dinner, Snakebite.

We check in at 08.30 tomorrow to get kitted out, hopefully we can avoid the coach parties at breakfast although it can be amusing to watch the Chinese put cornflakes and milk onto a flat plate rather than use a bowl, have seen that several times.