Franz Josef Glacier is one of only two glaciers in the world that terminate in rainforest. It catches about 30 meters of snow in its neve (bowl, or catchment area) each year and descends steeply toward the sea. Franz Josef travels about ten times faster than most of the world's valley glaciers because of the gradient and water running beneath it.According to Maori legend, the glacier formed from the frozen tears of a woman whose lover tragically fell to his death while climbing the mountains with her.
Franz Josef village services the tourists coming to visit the glacier, and is an ideal place to stop for the night if you have driven from Queenstown. There are a handful of restaurants and some newly opened hot pools, along with tour operators for scenic flights and hiking/climbing on the glacier itself.
Lake Matheson is only a few kilometers out of Franz Josef village and directions are well sign-posted. This lake is often seen on NZ postcards with the Southern Alps reflected on its surface. Unfortunately the day Kirwin and Zonk went (21-Dec-2008) it was a bit too windy for that classic shot so Kirwin entertained himself by making like a Tui (the fighter pilot of NZ's native birds) and landed himself in a tree.
Who says Kiwis can't fly?
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