Franz Josef: Settling In

October - ish 2013

When I first got here there was Tom, Julz and Georgie working on the bar. Julz left after a week of me being here to be replaced with a Kiwi called Ester. I know, an actual New Zealander working on the bar - crazy. Well, she was actually Dutch but she's been here 9 years or something so it counts!

Original Team!

The AJ Hackett crew made there first visit of the season in October to do a Horizontal Bungy which looked awesome! You are straped to a bungy cord and have to run the length of the bar to a drink at the other end and bounce back with it for your partner to down. For every item of clothing you take off they knock 5 seconds off!

Run!

On those very few days in Spring when it wasn't raining I went out to explore the area and there is quite a lot to see. On one of these days I went up to the Tunnels.

River

old thing

Over 100 years ago they made a hole through a mountain to direct water for some reason involving mining, I can't remember now. All I know its very dark in the tunnels and the ankle deep water you wade through is bloody freezing. There are glowworms in there though which is cool.

Entrance

Looking back at the entrance

On an extremely rare sunny day in October I decided to tackle Franz Josef's most epic mountain walk, Alex Knob. It took me 7 hours door to door and it nearly killed me but, after trekking up to 1303 metres, the view from up there is spectacular and it immediately became my favourite spot in Franz Josef .

Heading to the top of the first large hill on the right!

the river

The first part of the walk was along the road by the river to the glacier car park and the start of the track. Then I headed into the rainforest. I thought there would be a path and there is of sorts but its just a mud path with rocks and tree roots in the way so its more of a climb/trek then a walk. I came across a couple of recently fallen trees which I had to climb around as well.

Through the rainforest

Fallen tree

Every now and then the trees would open up and you would be able to see the valley.

out to sea

the entire town of Franz Josef

cant beat a panoramic

The glacier

View from Christmas lookout

I finally made it to the top and the view is simply breathtaking. The whole of the Southern Alps and the Franz Josef Glacier to your right, the valley heading out to sea on your left and the rainforest stretching out all the way to Fox Glacier behind you. I sat there for ages not wanting to leave. Partly because I couldn't physically move but mostly because I couldn't stop looking. But then the clouds rolled in so there wasn't much to look at anymore and I trudged all the way back down.

Made it!

Franz Josef Glacier in all its glory

Looks so good!

Dam clouds!

Halloween was upon us and as the Monsoon Bar loves a themem night we went all out with the decorations. Sarah was back too. An actual kiwi , she is something of a Franz Josef legend and this would be here 4th summer on the bar.

Decorating

more decorations

Green water for people to drink!

spiders everywhere

I somehow managed to bag the night off so i tried to dress up as a mummy but i kept unraveling! My favourite outfit by far was Gavin's who arrived as Jesus! It makes sense! He does come back from the dead! Its creepy!

Zombie apocalypse

back from the dead

its all a bit sinister

 To be continued