Saturday 3rd January

We had booked an early helicopter trip on the basis that the midday cloud that often appears would not be around at 0930. We awoke to a misty morning but that soon cleared and we were soon in the clear sky above Fox Glacier

and then on to Mount Cook, which sadly has claimed eight lives in 2014

before looking at the smaller Mount Tasman and landing on the snow

we could look down onto the glacier

and into the valleys beyond

a general walk about

a marvellous snowscape

a selfie

and back to base. A wonderful 40 minute experience.

A visit to the Franz Joseph was rather disappointing as the glacier has retreated a lot in the past few years and access to it is restricted

We camped for the night at Lake Mahinapua where there was a sailing club, fishing and swimming (Helen swam)