The Kiwi Life - New Zealand, Franz Josef (Day 10, 09 Jun - 21 Jun 2011)

Day 10 - Franz Josef

Today is the exciting day for the Franz Josef Glacier walk. Before departing, I'm worried whether I'm able to take this challenge to walk on the glacier for 4 hours! Finally I'm able to make it and become one of the memorable achievement in my life! According to my friend, we must try this experience before the glacier melted due to the global warming!

In the morning, we woke up early and quickly prepared ourself to this Franz Josef Glacier walk. We reached the glacier guide center and booked the Half Day Glacier Experience trip. The duration for this trip takes up to 4.5 hours and including the time at ice area is 2 hours. We took the trip at 12:30 pm and the trip cost is NZD 123 included glacier hot pool. There are something need to be prepared before the trip, such as not to wear clothes or pants that will easily get wet for examples jeans, this is because Franz Josef is located in the rainforest, and it is always raining there. In addition, the things that need to bring along such as food, drinks, sunglases, camera, and backpack.

Before departing, the guide gave us some briefing in the guide center and guide us to wear the equipments provided by them. The equipments provided such as Breathable Rain Jacket, Waterproof over-trouser, Socks and sturdy boots, Crampons (with small waist bag), Woollen hats and gloves. According to our handsome tour guide, he said there are only three glacier areas which located in the rainforest, one of them is in New Zealand - Franz Josef. It means the weather there will not be too freezing cold.

Let's see some awesome pictures below!

Franz Josef - We reached the Franz Josef Glacier guide center! Yeah!

Franz Josef - The tour included glacier hot pool!

Franz Josef - Franz Josef Glacier Guide center ticket counter

Franz Josef Glacier - We will ride this bus to Franz Josef Glacier!

Franz Josef Glacier - After hiking around 30 minutes, we passed by a beautiful waterfall before reaching the ice area.

Franz Josef Glacier - This signboard is warning the visitors not to explore the glacier without guide. It is very dangerous as you might get lost or the glacier might collapse!

Franz Josef Glacier - After walking long hours, we finally reach the bottom of the glacier hill!

Franz Josef Glacier - We continue our journey to reach the glacier area! Climbing up...

Franz Josef Glacier - We finally reached our destination! Blue blue glacier ice! Amazing view from the top!

Franz Josef Glacier - Zoomed-in view of the blue glacier ice!

Franz Josef Glacier - After 2 hours plus of walking, the tour guide let us have picnic lunch at this beautiful glacier! The first time of having picnic at this unique venue! Haha :P

Franz Josef Glacier - Love this pit of the glacier very much! So milky blue! But beware not to fall into it!

Franz Josef Glacier - Before the sky getting dark, the handsome tour guide rushed us to prepare to go back and say goodbye to this beautiful glacier! During winter time, the sky is getting darker earlier (around 4:30pm), therefore,the tour guide wanna ensure our safety and prohibit us to spend more time in photo shooting!

Franz Josef - Finally we are back to the guide center, this is the crampon with the boots. Without this equipment, it is very hard to walk on the glacier!

Glacier Hot Pool, Franz Josef - After having our dinner, we went to the hot pool and have a relax water soaking experience there! It is so relaxing after we had a tired glacier walking journey in the afternoon! (P/S: We bumped into a kiwi's family that same group with us during glacier walk tour in the afternoon!)

Glacier Hot Pool, Franz Josef - Relaxing our body at this fresh and natural water hot pool in this rainforest! The degree of water is up to 40 degrees, really suitable for us in this winter!

The Kiwi Life - New Zealand, Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef (Day 9, 09 Jun - 21 Jun 2011)

Day 9 - Queenstown -> Wanaka Puzzling World -> Franz Josef

In the morning, we reluctantly packed our luggages and prepared to leave Queenstown and headed to Wanaka. Before we leave this beautiful Queenstown, we took the last chance to walk around the Lake Wakatipu and captured more beautiful scenery photos! One unforgettable experience with the parking in Queenstown is since parking is hard to find, we finally managed to get to park at a 2 hours parking lot. However, due to we parked over the time limit, we got a present from Queenstown state government - summon (NZD 25)!!!

In the afternoon, after approximately 2 hours drive, we finally reached the destination we wanna visit in Wanaka - Puzzling World. The Puzzling World is an amazing place that having a lot mysterious scientific things to see. Due to the time limit and weather, we only able to enter to the indoor - Illusion Room. We have skipped the outdoor part - The Great Maze. The entrance fees for Illusion Room is NZD 12. There is a free entrance fees place that allows visitors to capture picture - Leaning & Tumbling Tower. There are some free puzzles games provided at the cafe areas for the visitors to play.

After having some fun and many crazy photos taken in Puzzling World, before the sky getting dark, we gotta rush to our next destination - Franz Josef. After around 4 hours driving, we finally reached the Chateau Franz Josef backpacker. By the time we reached there (about 8:30pm), we are so worried that the receptionist of the backpacker has left the office. Luckily the staff there is kind enough to leave the room key for us, else we gotta overnight outside the room during winter time... (P/S: During dragging my luggage to the room, my luggage has scratched due to the rocky road at the parking area... sob sob...)

After long and tired day, after having our instant noodle dinner, we slept early and rest more to prepare for the exciting and adventurous day tomorrow for the Franz Josef Glacier walk!

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown - Beautiful scene around Lake Wakatipu

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown - Ducks are swimming happily on the lake in the beautiful morning!

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown - Zoom in one of the beautiful duck standing in front of me :P The lake water  is so clear!

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown - So relaxing to walk at the lakeside!

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown - Saw this cute parachute-boat when helping my friends to capture group photo!

Queenstown - Bye bye Queenstown! Hope that I can come here to visit again!

Leaning Tower, Puzzling World Wanaka - This is the free entrance spot that many visitors took their crazy photos! Haha...

Roman-Style Toilets, Puzzling World Wanaka - While wondering why my friends took so long in the toilet, then we go to toilet area and finally realized the answer! If you sit beside the picture wall, the picture will create the illusion that you are one of the person in the picture too! Amazing! Even each of the toilet room and toilet bowl having different special designs!

Tumbling Towers, Puzzling World Wanaka - Crazy building architecture! Visitors really can stand inside the building banner area and take photos!

Hologram Hall in Illusion Rooms, Puzzling World Wanaka - Amazing 3D hologram photo of Marilyn Monroe with sexy pose! It's very real compare to this photo if you watching it in person there!

Hologram Hall in Illusion Rooms, Puzzling World Wanaka - When my beautiful fingers touch this, the wonderful rainbow color lights appear! Hehehe...

Hall of Following Faces in Illusion Rooms, Puzzling World Wanaka - Fantastic effect if you walk around this room! You will feel that the faces are watching you while you passing by them! Albert Einstein's face are there too!

Tilted House in Illusion Rooms, Puzzling World Wanaka - Watch the ping pong ball can roll from the bottom to the top! Mind blowing experience!

Tilted House in Illusion Rooms, Puzzling World Wanaka - Watched out when you entered this room, it is very sliding, it tilted at 15 degree angle! We cannot stand still in long duration in this room, as we  felt dizzy! Once you pressed the button, the chair will move from bottom to the top like elevator...

Ames Forced Perspective Room, Puzzling World Wanaka - There are 2 doors located at each end of the room, when 2 person stand in front of each door, one will look like giant human, another will looks like hobbit! Haha... Fun!

Chateau Franz Josef backpacker, Franz Josef - Finally get ready to sleep and prepare for the 4.5 hours glacier walk!!

The Kiwi Life - New Zealand, Queenstown, Arrowtown (Day 8, 09 Jun - 21 Jun 2011)

Day 8 - Queenstown -> Lake Hayes -> Arrowtown -> Queenstown

In the morning, we ate our breakfast and prepared to continue our journey to Arrowtown.

On the way reaching our destination, we passed by a astonishing beautiful lake - Lake Hayes. Thanks to the beautiful weather, the scenery there really heavenly attracting us to stop by and captured some beautiful photos. This is one of the lake I love among all the lakes in New Zealand.

Finally we had reached our destination - Arrowtown. From our research, we knew that Arrowtown is a historical town and famous for gold mining activities long time ago. However, we don't have much time to explore the gold mining areas, or else maybe we could get some gold as souvenir back to our home? Hahaha...

Nevertheless, we still able to snap many beautiful photos in this town. I feel this town is very unique with the ancient design of the buildings and the things surrounding. In this town, we also had met a cute gal - Taiwanese visitor to help us to capture a group photo together with the special design Arrowtown visitor sightseeing bus and the bus driver! We really appreciated for her help and we also pleased to meet Asian people in this country. During our chit chat, she said she come to New Zealand alone for working holiday, I feel she is very brave to travel alone and proud of her! After a while, her bus is arrived and we gotta say goodbye to her!

In the afternoon, we back to Queenstown and walked around the souvenirs shop! The last day to grab the stuff before we go to our next destination! The last chance to capture more photos in Queenstown before we leave too!

Queenstown - Beautiful flowers during winter at Queenstown The Black Sheep backpacker. 

The Black Sheep backpacker, Queenstown - This is the third day and last day we will  be spent in this backpacker! Miss the comfortable and relax room we stayed there!

Lake Hayes - Heavenly beautiful lake! A lake we found when we heading towards Arrowtown!

Lake Hayes - The information board to alert us to protect this beautiful environment!

Arrowtown - Finally we on the ancient Arrowtown street!

Arrowtown - Saw some teenagers playing skater board here!

Arrowtown - Sightseeing tourist bus

Arrowtown - Gold mining information board

Arrowtown - Beautiful scenery at Arrowtown! So relaxing environment!

Arrowtown - Passed by a special shop named "Bonjour"! I'm always alert when saw 'Eiffel Tower' designed stuff! Hehehe...

Arrowtown - Ancient design post office! This post office still in operation!

Arrowtown - Spotted another special GOLD shop! A nice car with nice number plate parked in front of the shop too!

Arrowtown - Lake District Museum, unfortunately we didn't have a chance to visit this museum!

Arrowtown - Ancient design of telephone booth!

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown - In the afternoon, we back to Queenstown again! Took this picture at the roadside!

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown - Beautiful lake! Envy those people that stay near this lake, everyday wake up can see this beautiful scenery!

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown - Beautiful lake, mountains, blue sky and green grass!

Queenstown - In the evening, I spotted the parachuting activities in the Queenstown sky!

Queenstown - Spotted another special named restaurant "Devil Burger"?

Queenstown - We went to 'CookieTime' shop for the second time! Cute car toy!

Queenstown - Night view of 'CookieTime'

Queenstown - We again entered to this souvenir shop! I think we at least visited this shop for 3 times! Haha... We found many special and cute souvenirs here. The price are cheaper too!