One of New Zealand’s big attractions is the south island’s Franz Josef Glacier. If you’ve got several hundred dollars, you can take a helicopter to the glacier and walk around on it. Or, if you’re like me and my three travelmates and on a budget, the alternative is to walk to the lookout about 500 meters shy of the glacier. The short walk is on a gravel path past waterfalls and moss covered rocks.
Helpful signs remind you to avoid getting killed by falling ice and falling rocks.
It’s frustratingly difficult to get a semi decent photo as the glacier is blindingly bright and the mountains it has nestled between are a stark gray, but the view in person is awfully impressive.
Close up.
For a bit of perspective on Franz Josef’s size, note the 3 people standing near the base of the glacier.
