The morning kicked off early with blue skies and a crisp chill in the air perfect for tackling the Franz Josef Glacier walk before the crowds rolled in. The trail wound through lush rainforest, thick with moss and ferns, until it opened up to that jaw-dropping sight: a wall of ice wedged between two towering mountain ridges. Even from a distance, you could hear the meltwater roaring down the valley, the views were just other worldly!
Georgia was fascinated by the waterfalls and and stopped every few metres to show us another “sparkly rock.” It’s one of those walks that makes you feel tiny standing there staring at a glacier that’s been carving its way through stone for centuries.
Afterwards, we headed into town for a late breakfast at SnakeBite Cafe for coffee, hot chocolate, breakfast baps, kids breakfast meals, and the perfect mountain town feeling.
Then came the big one: the buggy adventure.
Georgia and I jumped into a bright yellow quad buggy and spent the next couple of hours tearing through glacial rivers, skimming over stones, splashing through water, and laughing our heads off. It was insane good fun one of those experiences that hits every sense at once: wind in your face, mud in your teeth, and that wild West Coast backdrop of snow-capped peaks and roaring rivers, yes we got very cold and very wet, but what great fun winding through rainforest too!
Meanwhile, Ali and Dotty had their own magic exploring the forest trails, discovering a tiny hobbit door tucked into the ferns, and spotting a cheeky green bird in the treetops.
We regrouped later for a much needed coffee break and spent the afternoon winding down at the campsite. The whole day felt like the West Coast in a nutshell raw, wild, and a little bit otherworldly.
Tomorrow, we’re heading south to Wānaka, weather and road conditions permitting. SH6 is still closed for now, so it might be another day of waiting and watching. Either way, today was one for the books a mix of glacier air, muddy adventures, and pure New Zealand magic.
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