After Milford we did the long drive back towards Queenstown. We stopped off in Te Anau to break up the trip and made it to Queenstown about 4.5 hours later.

We stopped off for lunch in Queenstown at a cute little cafe and then headed to the Kiwi Bird and Wildlife park. We saw a cool show all about native birds (and the Australian lorakeet) and then we got to see a Maori cultural show. During the Maori cultural show we learned some Maori words, saw a version of the Haka and did the Hooky Pokey in Maori ("you put your puka in, your put your puka out...". We also got to see a kiwi feeding and actually see Kiwi's foraging around in the kiwi house. Because kiwi's are nocturnal you usually have to squint in an enclosure to see them. But on this occasion we actually could see them!

After the kiwi house we started driving north to Wanaka where we would spend the night.

Stopping along the way to Wanaka.


Pretty flowers and icy blue water


We spent the night in Wanaka which is about 2 hours north of Queenstown and on the shores of Lake Wanaka (what original names!). The next morning we went for a stroll along the water and even fed some ducks.

The four of us on the shores of Lake Wanaka


After breakfast we headed to the Wanaka Toy and Transport Museum. The guide book described it as being like someones really cool attic with over 30,000 random things including a MIG jet and over 200 cars.



With 3 airplane hangers there was huge collections of star wars memorabilia, old cameras, star wars toys, little figurines, real fire engines, signed cars from movies (including one of "Worlds Fastest Indian" signed by Anthony Hopkins) and more!

Old gas pumps outside


Some of the cool toys at the museum


After spending over 3 hours at the museum (and 20 minutes at the microbrewery next door) we continued on our way to Franz Joseph Glacier.

On our way (oops not in that car!) - more fun at the museum in a pedal car


While the whole area we had been traveling around in thus far was mountainous we suddenly moved in to higher mountains with snow on them!

Mt Cook or Mt. Aspiring (not sure which)


More waterfalls @ Thunder Creek Falls


After a long 3 hour drive we arrived in Franz Joseph which was pretty impressive. Again another town that felt like a little alpine ski village. The next morning Mom, Matt and i headed off to do a half day hike on the glacier (which they pronounce "glah-see-er" here).

Franz Joseph Glacier


We did about a 2k hike in a big group of about 45 people from the parking lot at the national park to the terminal face of the glacier.

Matt and I on the hike to the terminal face


We eventually separated into 3 groups and the three of us joined the lead group at the front. We stopped to put on our crampons (spikes) which tied on over our boots and up we went.

These boots were made for walking...


Me and Mom


Up we went. Guide ropes were up on some of the areas we went up on and not in some areas. Not that it mattered, crampons really do their job!

Our young guide took us up, around and even through. That's right, through. We got to go through caves and even crevasses (one aptly named "Big Momma's Crack"). Again, i'll let the pictures do the talking...

The cave...(of doom!)


Stairs inside the cave


I was very proud of my mom who suffers from pretty bad claustrophobia managed to make it through everything (not without some serious panicking - stay tuned for video).

The 3 of us hiking


Going through Fat Momma's Crack


We spent a solid 3 hours on the ice and had such a great time. It is really one of the coolest things i have ever done (literally!)

For Matt our ice hike was not enough and the next morning he got up early to go to the only indoor ice climbing gym in the southern hemisphere. He spent 45 minutes and managed to do 3 climbs in that time frame while i watched from the peanut gallery. He even got in some of the more advanced walls done!

Up, up, up!


Look at those ice pikes, ouch!


We left for Greymouth to take the TranzAlpine train the next morning (after Matt's hike).

And that is where we shall pick up next time! Stay tuned.