Passeios por Franz Josef Glacier

Great ride, the guide was knowledgeable, the scenery was nice, and the best part had to be Māori Beach. If only we had more time at the park at Fox Glacier.

Here's the translation for your new message: --- We happened to have clear skies on the day we went. Although we didn't catch the spectacular sight of a thousand waterfalls in full flow, it was still a very worthwhile trip — at least four or five waterfalls are "open for business" year-round. Along the way, we also stopped at several scenic spots, and the bus driver was quite witty and humorous, giving us introductions to the various activities available. Highly recommended.

I had a reservation for a specific time slot, so I presented my mobile voucher at the counter to check in. During the shuttle transfer, a short video was played, giving a welcoming feeling and an exciting sense that a fantasy world was about to unfold! The guide led everyone on a tour of the park. It's crucial to keep up and not wander off or linger, as you need to seize the time to enjoy the scenery or take photos; once you miss something, there's no going back. The guide spoke entirely in English, but it didn't matter if I didn't understand all the explanations; I still had a great time! The guide even helped with photos! The last stop was a restaurant and bar, where everyone could choose one free drink. I opted for the only non-alcoholic option, ginger ale, which was a large, delicious, and filling drink! I really wanted to sit by the warm fireplace for an hour or two, but unfortunately, we only had a few brief minutes (maybe half an hour, or even less, I've forgotten a bit). Besides the free drink, there was also self-serve coffee available. Upon leaving the park, everyone received a souvenir-shaped cup. P.S.: Before entering the park, the guide asked if anyone didn't know why they were there. I really wanted to raise my hand because I hadn't even seen the related movies or books. When planning the itinerary, I even considered skipping this man-made attraction to save some travel expenses, but I'm so glad I came! The natural scenery is beautiful, and the architecture, decorations, and various objects are all exquisitely crafted, as if they were naturally formed! Of course, they are also meticulously maintained! It's definitely worth a visit!

The starry sky is beautiful, and the weather isn't too cold. If you come to Tekapo, I highly recommend it. However, the clouds became a bit thick later, and the moon was a bit bright, affecting the stars. I suggest staying two nights to have a better chance of seeing the stars.

I wasn't a big fan of LOTR, but I honestly learned a lot from this tour. Riding in a 4WD vehicle added to the fun as well! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The banana bread (and other food) provided was delicious. It was a nice touch when the driver offered us what he brought for us. 🙂

Upon arriving at the stargazing spot, the staff had each member lie down on a lounge chair and provided a thick blanket (the temperature was only a few degrees, it was very cold). The first part involved viewing with the naked eye. The staff used an astronomical laser pointer to indicate points in the sky while explaining astronomical knowledge. After viewing with the naked eye, we used astronomical telescopes 🔭 for stargazing. There were two telescopes, and most of the pictures were taken with the smaller one (small, but very powerful). We saw Jupiter's stripes, the Milky Way, a gentle close-up of the moon, and the twinkling stars around the Southern Cross, among other things. It was truly moving to the point of tears. Seeing it live was countless times more beautiful than in photos, because you feel like they are alive, they are moving, they are blooming ⭐ During the process, the staff also provided everyone with a cup of hot chocolate and took souvenir photos for each team member. Finally, we gathered around a fire pit to roast marshmallows 🍡, ending my stargazing trip feeling completely satisfied. 🤗

The tour guide was very friendly, introducing the surrounding area along the way and informing us in advance where the restrooms were. They also found several spots for us to get off, take photos, and enjoy the scenery.

My family and I had a great time on this tour. Mr. Chao, the driver, was informative and gave thorough instructions on pick up points throughout all the stops we made. It was an extremely rainy day, but that just made the waterfalls even more magical.