The FRAAAANZ is gone...

Day 46 - 10/25/23

Not just the Sisssssiii but now also the Fraaaanz…..

The Franz Josef Glacier - one of the flagships of the South Island should be our destination today.

When we had completed the short hiking trail, the astonishment - no, the fright - was really great. The glacier tongue that we had expected here had disappeared - irretrievably. So much so that if you want to see the glacier you have to accept a hike of around 8-9 hours.

We were quite shocked to realize that the stories about the retreat of the glaciers here were real - CREEPY.

In the afternoon we visited a kiwi center where the rare rowi kiwis are raised. They are nocturnal and one wonders what New Zealanders see in this bird that they never see and consider like a national treasure. - Karin has complete understanding for the New Zealanders, because the kiwis are cuddly and sweet.