Heli Hiking at Franz Joseph Glacier

The most amazing afternoon we probably have had to date! We made our way down the west coast of the south island to the glacier area and stopped at Franz Joseph. We took a helicopter and then had a walk on and in the glacier. It's the most amazing sight you could ever imagine. The warm air blows over the Tasman Sea from Australia and hits the Southern Alps and dumps snow on the peaks and effectively the glaciers are there! It's the only sight in the world that has glaciers in such a temparate climate (anyway enough of the geography lesson there!). The photos don't do justice to the actual views themselves.
This glacier moves 3 metres per day!

Here we are inside a glacial cave

Henry - aka Scott of the Antarctic (well it's the next place south of here!)

Very cold and wet crack (in the ice!)