Isi's Bungy Jump and Arrival at Fox Glacier Village (14.3.2014)

It was time yet again to change locations. While Queenstown was cool, it was also a bit too "hip" for us. It just felt too... rushed. Always stuff to do, but it drains your funds like there is no tomorrow. So while we had a lot of fun being there it felt good to be on the road again to our next destination. One that we are very excited about; The Fox Glacier.

While the Franz Josef Glacier is the more well-known one, the Fox Glacier is supposed to be just as good while being much, much cheaper to go up. We booked an all day trip of 6 - 7 hours with a trained guide up on the ice up on the glacier. While we're not worried that we may be physically unable to do the tour, it will be interesting to see how we will feel at the end of it. I am sure, the adrenaline will carry us for quite some time :) We start at 9:10 am to get our gear (among other things those cool spikes under your shoes to make sure you don't lose your footing) and then it's off for an entire day up the glacier :)

But before we got there, we had a fixture first where Isi for some unimaginable reason decides to jump of a bridge with an elastic band attached to her legs - Yes, I am, of course, talking about her Bungy Jump (yes, it is written Bung"y" not Bungee like I assumed all those years). We went to Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown, the first place where the two nutcases who came up with it (I forget the names) made their very first jump. Without taking too much away from you, Isi fell "successfully" 43 meters into the depths. Unfortunately, I can't share the pictures just yet, as we still have to download them from their website and again the internet access is rather limited here :(

Afterwards to get to the Westlands of New Zealand, where the Fox Glacier is situated we first had to drive over the pass at Mount Pisa to come down to both Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. It was again a very sunny day this time with a couple of clouds. The water was so clear that we had to stop for a little while and tried to let stones jump on the water (Personal day best was 7 jumps).

We then crossed the Haast-Pass to enter the Westlands of New Zealand. It was very interesting to leave the reasonably arid region of Queenstown, drive over a pass and end up in true temperate, evergreen rainforest. On the way was also Mount Aspiring National Park, where we briefly stopped to have a look at a waterfall found there in the aptly named Waterfall Creek. Again, beautifully clear water and horribly annoying sandflies that got into the car this time and almost caused me to drive into the side ditch of the road (I am easily distracted). In fact, driving-wise I did not have my finest hour today. Three times I accidentally ended up on the right side of the road after a left turn *facepalm*.

Well, we "did" eventually arrive at the Fox Glacier Village and checked-in to a unnecessarily Manchester flat reminiscent smell of musty rooms and to what they claim to be "free" WiFi. In fact, they gave us 4 vouchers for 100 MB and if it is not enough, I need to have a little discussion about the meaning of the word "free" with the Manager (Interestingly, they gave me directions straight away to his office). This is one thing to really pay attention to. Many hotels, motels and hostels advertise free WiFi while they just give you a free amount, which in essence is etiquette fraud (or whatever you call it in English).

Anyhow, we decided to drink a few cold ones in the sun shine with a beautiful green panorama and play a couple of card games and then let the day slowly turn to night. With that said, I will hit the sack and write a bit more the next time, I have more steady internet. Take care, folks.

 Pass over Mt. Pisa

 Lake Hawea

 Waterfall Creek

 Isi showing off her Bungy Tags (Fifth Jump of the Day and 64 kg)