Franz Josef Glacier Road

A stunning day today, and I made full use of it. My early morning before breakfast walk ended up being a lot longer than I intended when I walked all the way to the glacier view point, and to Sentinel Rock, plus one or two diversions on the way. Fortunately I did have coffee and a piece of toast before I left. Then, after a late breakfast, I drove down to Fox Glacier: Lake Matheson and Gillespies Beach. Superb views of the mountains.

I do find it hard to understand why Franz Josef village hasn't moved out of the way of the Waiho River. This river has massively increased in width since I first drove this road some decades ago. I must look out a picture I think I still have of the small suspension bridge that used to span the river. The riverbed bed is much higher now, too, as it has filled with debris washed down in floods.  The glacier is steeper, and periodically large chunks of ice fall off into the river. It is only a matter of time before the whole village is inundated by a huge flood. The development on the west side of the road has now gone, to be replaced by stop banks which will hopefully be effective until the big one arrives.