I Walked on Fox Glacier - and I Got a Helicopter Ride Too!
Ranked #10,171 in Travel & Places, #258,465 overall
Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier And Aoraki/Mount Cook, We Saw Them All From The Air
This page is part of a series on our Sept - Oct 2010 driving trip across New Zealand. We took our time covering the spectacular West Coast of the South Island and have captured it in photos to share here in this series. New Zealand is our adopted home, we have been here for 8 years. We have explored many corners of this amazing country, and this page highlights Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's tallest mountain and is part of Te Wahipounamu (Maori meaning "the place of greenstone"), a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1990 and covers 26,000 km², including several New Zealand National Parks. Nearby Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are outside of the world heritage park and do have the unique distinction of being glaciers which travel into lush rainforest, ending only 300 metres from the sea. Amongst the over 3000 glaciers in New Zealand, Franz Josef is one of the few to still be growing (as of 2007). I hope you enjoy our photo adventure.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos on this page were taken by Rhonda Albom and are copyrighted and protected.
I Really Couldn't Grasp the Magnitude of Fox Glacier Until I Was Actually Standing on It
This is my favorite photo from this segment of the trip - My girls on Fox Glacier
We Traveled Up the South Island - This Page Features:
See map below for our entire south island travel adventure.
What is a Glacier?
A glacier is a slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles.
Have You Walked on a Glacier?
Any desire to be out in the cold?
Franz Josef Glacier
12 kms long
Descends from the Southern Alps to 19 km from the Tasman Sea
Waiho River emerges from Franz Josef
Named after Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
Pilot checks out the helicopter while the girls are ready to go
Our First Look at Franz Josef Glacier from the Air
The girls are loving the ride
Finally, we see some of the famous blue ice on Franz Josef Glacier
What causes the ice to be blue?
A glacier grows from the top as large amounts of snow compact and partially melt to form a whitish granular snow called firn. Over several years, as water seeps in and air is forced out under the weight of accumulating snow, the granules eventually merge together forming bluish glacial ice. Under the continual gravitation pull down the valley the glacier slowly moves forward like a giant ice river. The ice slowly melts as it reaches the more temperate lower levels closer to sea level. I Love This Blue Ice Poster
I wasn't brave enough to take a tour into the ice caves
Aoraki/Mount Cook
New Zealand's highest mountain
Highest point 3,754 metres
Part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site
Has 72 named glaciers
Mt. Cook is New Zealand's Tallest Mountain, but it Doesn't Look that Big from Up Here
Then the Pilot Pointed out the Cabin - Can You See It - Now Mt. Cook Looks Big!
Looking for More Information on NZ National Parks
This book looks great.
Inside New Zealand's National Parks
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $45.00
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Fox Glacier
Fed by four alpine glaciers
13 km long, falling 2,600m
Overflows into Fox River
Ends in lush rainforest only 300 metres above sea level
Named after NZ Prime Minister Sir William Fox in 1872
We landed on Fox Glacier
It is quite amazing how big it really is when you try to run to the rise in the distance
Still Running
Fox Glacier from the air
The Fox Valley, at the end of the Fox Glacier
Adventure Seekers - This is the Book for You
(and it's chock full of funny cartoons)
This detailed instructional guide provides the knowledge and advanced skills you need to safely navigate through dangerous glaciated terrain, from the Cascades to Alaska to the Himalayas. Hundreds of hilarious and informative illustrations by Mike Clelland complement the clear and concise text by Andy Tyson. Mike and Andy have both collectively spent years teaching and traveling on glaciers throughout the world.
- glacier anatomy
- equipment
- knots
- route finding
- rescue techniques
- expedition skills
A favorite textbook at climbing schools, Glacier Mountaineering is an invaluable introduction to this complicated subject and an excellent reference for beginners and experienced mountaineers alike.
Glacier Mountaineering: An Illustrated Guide to Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue (How To Climb Series)
Amazon Price: $9.62 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $16.95
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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skiesgreen
Jan 12, 2012 @ 11:13 pm | delete
- Gorgeous and the beauty of New Zealand mountains and attractions could not be done better than through your camera and those beautiful daughters of yours, You are a great reporter and teacher, Rhonda, *Blessed* and featured on Blessed by Skiesgreen 2012, Hugs
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Oct 8, 2011 @ 6:46 pm | delete
- Another adventure to add to my ever growing New Zealand bucket list. Sounds like great fun. I've never traveled by helicopter, but I have been up close to glaciers in Alaska. This will be a different kind of experience though. Looking forward to it.
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Serenia
Jan 13, 2011 @ 3:30 pm | delete
- You didn't get to Dunedin or Invercargill, or central otago or the stewart island?? that's a pity. You dont know what you missed. Central otago especially has great gold mining history and its beautiful un the autumn. You really should try and visit down south again.
I spent 7 years in dunedin and visited central otago and southland frequently!!
Umm just remembered - Dont you have a lens about the Catlins? I think you do.
Ok I'll stop babbling now. LOL
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happynutritionist Oct 21, 2010 @ 3:42 pm | delete
- Another amazing selection of photos, I love the bit about the blue ice, you would think it was food coloring:-) What a beautiful world we live in, and I know you're in a prime spot!
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capriliz
Oct 21, 2010 @ 2:43 pm | delete
- This sounds amazing. I love your photos that show how tiny you are compared to this massive gacier.
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sandyspider
Oct 21, 2010 @ 10:01 am | delete
- Beautiful photos of your trip. Looked like a lot of fun.
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ohcaroline
Oct 20, 2010 @ 1:05 pm | delete
- Just beautiful photos. How memorable for you and your family.
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BuckHawk
Oct 20, 2010 @ 8:00 am | delete
- Wow, Rhonda, what a fantastic trip that was. Had to chuckle with your "run" to the top!
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LisaAuch
Oct 20, 2010 @ 3:02 am | delete
- What an amazing trip for your family, and I had always wondered why the ice was blue, now I know! Fantastic.
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JoanneOtt
Oct 19, 2010 @ 10:56 pm | delete
- Wonderful photos and story. Sounds like you had a great adventure!
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