17. Franz Josef Glacier Valley

There are several glaciers on the South Islands, but most of them are high up in the mountains. Two of them reach lower elevations, and they are major tourist draws. Conveniently they are located only 20 km apart. Popular as they may be, they are pale compared to the mighty Perito Moreno in Argentina. Nevertheless, I still had some good days in this area. In Franz Josef I walked the Roberts Point Track to reach a good spot to see the glacier. The walk was only some 12-13 km forth and back, but it was still a challenging walk with some quite steep passages. This picture is from the walk and it is a view over the valley where the Franz Josef Glacier once flowed, but as the glacier is retreating, there is only the river today.