Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand - Day 2

 Thursday, February 13, 2020  
      Franz Josef Glacier or, as its known in local Māori legends, Kā Roimata ō Hine Hukatere (the frozen tears of Hine Hukatere) is a 12 kilometer (7.5 mile) long temperate maritime glacier located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.
     From its origins high in the Southern Alps, the Franz Josef Glacier descends into the lush native rainforest of Westland's National Park. This descent occurs from a height of 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) above sea level to 240 meters (787 feet) over a distance of 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), making it one of the steepest glaciers in the country.
     The river emerging from the glacier terminal of Franz Josef is known as the Waiho River.

From our hotel, the Scenie Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, you can see the glacier looking down the one main street of the village of Franz Josef, which has a permanent population of approximately 330 residents.

 

We took a short 10 minute van ride to a hiking drop-off.  There are many hiking trails to choose from....everything from shorter/easier trails to very steep/demanding/strenuous and much longer advanced trails - including an overnight hiking excursion.  Needless to say, we took the shorter/easier trail which took us through some lovely lush native bush......

 

 .......and ended at "Peter's Pool", with gorgeous reflections of the glacier in its water.