Franz Josef, Queenstown and Milford Sound (New Zealand): ice, skydiving and breathtaking views

11 March - 18 March 2011

After the incredible Abel Tasman National Park, we headed to Franz Josef. A spectacular Unesco World Heritage on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Franz Josef is famous for its glacier. And the must-do is a full day hike on the glacier, what I of course did.

8 hours hike among which 6 on the glacier, a definitely unique experience. Of course we had to get prepared with 4 layers on the top, a rain coat, trousers and rain trousers, gloves, hats, thick socks, super heavy shoes and of course crampons. Ready to go!

The feeling of walking on a glacier is amazing. Air is so pure and fresh, ice so white and beautiful. The hike was exhausting, 12km in total, but a memorable souvenir.

The second day, i decided to skydive at Fox Glacier, which is another glacier, 25 km away from the first one. After a 20 minutes flight above the glaciers and Mount Cook (the highest mountain in New Zealand) and amazing landscapes, I jumped out of the plane with Greg, my tandem. 12000 feet high, around 3700m, 45 seconds of free fall and then 5 min of slow landing, another great experience.

Enough crazy activities, I was time to relax and visit Queenstown. Located on the West Coast of the South Island, with the Lake Wakatipu, the city was small but so beautiful. The weather was sunny so for 2 entire days I walked around, sat at cafes reading, shopped, ate sushis, had delicious ice creams and world known burgers, walked and walked... Wonderful time in Queenstown.

On a day trip, I joined a tour to Milford Sound which is a fjord, most famous tourist destination in New Zealand. It runs 15 km inland from the Tasman Sea and is surronded by rock faces that rise 1200m and even more on both sides. It also has several beautiful waterfalls. It was so amazing that it is very difficult to describe it so, one picture is worth a thousand words...

After Queenstown, I continued my trip on the East coast of the South Island. Still more beauties to discover...

Next stops: Lake Tekapo, Tongariro National Park and Coromandel (New Zealand).