Day 8: Fox Glacier

It was mission Fox Glacier today.We were focused to be there before our scheduled 2:30 pm helihike tour.It was one of the main attractions on our NZ to do list and we both wanted to ensure that we do everything rite for the trip.The scheduled time to reach Fox Glacier from Queenstown is around 6 hrs but my super hero hubby being a gr8 driver that he is made us reach in arnd 5 hrs 15 mins with a small halt at Makario for breakfast.We also had a look at the Fantail and thundercreek falls on the way.We reached Fox Glacier at around 12:00 pm and being a very small town were quickly able to find Fox Glacier Mountain View B &B.We met up with Karen,she had a beautiful house with a cool view of Mount Tasman,the second highest peak in NZ.She offered us some tea and then she gave us a rapid fire what to do for the helihike in and around Fox Glacier town.She was very sweet,both me and Saunil felt like kids who were being given a quick tutorial on something imp,felt good..remembered the good old school days.The weather was pretty nice and we were expecting it to be good enuf for the helihike( helicopter ride +hike) but it wasn’t true.The helicopter ride to the glacier requires extra special conditions to land it safely on the glacier and the suspense began.We would not know till 1:50 whether we would be able to go for it..too much of a suspense to handle!! There were so many things to anticipate for..firstly whether we would be able to go for it..and secondly if we would be able to go what’s it going to be like.We grabbed a quick sandwhich in the local café and waited.Finally,the suspense ended ,yippee!!! The weather was fine,we were going for the helihike.We were taken to the helipad location where we were given socks and boots to wear on the hike and few instructions for the helicopter ride.The chopper ride lasted for 10 mins and offered beautiful view of the mountains,few waterfalls and then the glacier.The glacier is a bit hidden and so we were awestruck when we got its first view.There were around 15 ppl waiting on the glacier to get a ride back home.Our pilot gave us a swing ride through the Victoria falls and then landed.When I put my first step on the ice,I was scared and excited at the same time,mixed emotions!!An attendee helped me to a safe spot and luckily it wasn’t very cold and the 3 layered clothing were good enough to keep us warm.Once all the other ppl were on their way back home,it was just 6 of us,five first-timers with our guide Dean.He was a young Australian guy, seemed friendly.He gave us instructions to put on the “Crampoons” a nail entanglement to be worn around our boots to catch grip on the ice.We were lucky to have such few ppl on the glacier,would give us an opportunity to get a more closer,calm look of the glaciers.We started walking on the ice,through the glacier.The intial few moments were bit awkward,scared with the crampons on ice but my hubby was by my side so I was okay…,kept holding his hand to make my way through.Dean was cool,he took us to awesome glacier formations=>crevices,musels,ice formations,ice caves…

simply marvelous and stunning,he also gave us some good understanding of the Fox Glacier formations,its history…very interesting!!We walked and walked on the ice…felt like travelers on a mission.The comfort level grew by the time and unlike what I had expected,slipped just once!! Dean had kept one of the main attractions for the end.We entered through a glacier cave formation,it was so cool…have a video of it too.Two and half hours on the glacier just flew by and the helicopter was on its way..to summarize the Glacier experience..it was a mystic,magical walk in a no-man’s land(like Neverland),through infinity…didn’t know the start or the end..just white ice and the mountains all around..reinstilled the amazing,magical powers and creation of the Almighty God.

One of the best moments!!!