Monday, July 29, 2013

Glacier Overload!!

In the span of 3 days we saw 3 glaciers. It's probably hard to appreciate the sheer massiveness of these rivers of ice through pictures, since with each one we decided to get close, then closer, to finally on top of to truly appreciate them.

Even so! Here are some pictures of our days with glaciers... They really are quite big.

Rob Roy Glacier - Mt. Aspiring National Park
Contemplating the massiveness

Franz Josef Glacier - Westland National Park
Franz Josef Alpine Village
A little closer view from the top of the valley

Fox Glacier - Westland National Park 

On Fox Glacier!
In Fox Glacier!

Lake Tekapo

From one unrealistic lakefront to another, we stayed in Lake Tekapo after an unexpected 3-day stint in Wanaka (it was too pretty to leave, basically). But instead of leaving beauty behind, it seemed to follow us to this similarly unreal, should-be-a-painting scenic waterside campsite.

The mountains on the far shore trail west to Mount Cook and its village only miles away -
nature's sign that our New Zealand adventure is winding down, and we are coming full circle.

It's hard to see in these pictures, but the lake is a milky turquoise color. Never seen anything like it.