Lake Matheson & Franz Josef (Glacier)

This morning the clouds between the mountains were super blue, I've never seen them like that before.

Immediately after breakfast we drove half an hour to Fox Glacier to Lake Matheson. It is famous for its view and reflection of Mount Cook. Like tornado chasers, we drove towards the hole in the clouds and quickly walked to the lookout. You could see the mountain top briefly, but the lake was too turbulent for a reflection.

Back over to Franz Josef Glacier the glacier was on the agenda. A short walk led many people back to the viewing point. But all you saw was a barren valley where there once was a glacier, but which is now so far back that you can no longer see it. Well, we - and probably many others - didn't expect that. Well, the short trip was probably a flop - that happens sometimes.

So we had another quiet afternoon before the long drive tomorrow and went to a playground again with E (of course with a swing).

I always have a bit of an expectation that we're on vacation and in New Zealand and every day has to be filled with highlights, but then I realize that the time we spend together is also important. And with E it's easy, it puts a smile on your face every day.