Each Monday, I’ll post a travel photo with a brief description of the area. Through this feature, you’ll hopefully get a small taste of a fascinating destination.
Today’s Monday Escape takes you to Raglan, New Zealand – a small, surf community located about three hours south of Auckland. You’ll know you’re in a surf town when you stroll down Raglan’s main street with its surf shops, tanned and long hairs surfers, and barefoot people everywhere you look.
Raglan Sunset
Raglan is known the world around for its Manu Bay and the world’s longest left hand break. Manu Bay was featured in the 1966 film, Endless Summer.
Want a go at surfing? Check out Raglan Surfing School for lessons. Stay at the picturesque Raglan Backpackers. If you’re traveling in a campervan, avoid staying the night at Manu Bay’s car park – or risk waking to a $40 parking fine.
If you ever find yourself in Franz Josef Village, on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, you’ll be there for one reason – and one reason only. You’ve come to see Big Franz – Franz Josef Glacier.
Franz Josef Village (population, 300) exists solely because of the glacier found just outside of town. It’s a great, wee tourist settlement with all the necessary
Franz Josef Village
bars, restaurants, cafes, and tourist shops. Franz has a nice, alpine village feel – so long as you don’t mind the massive influx of tourists that come every summer. If you’re here during the high season, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance.
A visit to New Zealand’s West Coast isn’t complete without a trip to one of the two glaciers found here – Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier. Located only 300 meters above sea level, nowhere else in the world do glaciers come so close to the sea at this latitude. Found in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Franz Josef Glacier is the product of years and years of endless rain. The West Coast receives over 78 inches of rain each year. High above Franz Josef Village in the glacier’s accumulation zone, this precipitation falls as snow, which eventually forms ice, which in turn creates Franz Josef Glacier.
View of the glacial valley
Franz is one of the world’s fastest moving glaciers – traveling towards the sea at an astonishing average of one meter per day. About 18,000 years ago, Franz stretched all the way to the Tasman Sea. Since then, it has advanced and retreated and is currently found about 5kms outside of Franz Josef Village.
You have a number of options to see the glacier – one to suit every budget. If you’re short on cash, you can catch a lift to the car park outside of town. A 45-minute walk will take you within view of Franz’s face. An equally (if not more) impressive view is found by taking a quick ten-minute hike from the car park to the top of Sentinel Rock. From here you’re granted terrific views of the glacier stretching up the mountainside.
Franz Josef Glacier’s Face
To get the most out of your glacier experience, I recommend going for a guided hike onto the glacier with Franz Josef Glacier Guides. Located in the village, FJGG offers half day, full day, and heli-hikes. For the budget traveler, the half day guided hike is a must.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides sets you up with all you need for your glacier experience. They provide ice crampons, boots, warm and waterproof pants and coats, and transportation from the village. After being led to the glacier face, your group of thirty is broke down into groups of 10 – 12 with a guide for each group.
After donning your crampons at the edge of the glacier, about fifty steps cut into the ice bring you to the top of Franz’s face. Immediately, you’re greeted with unbelievable views of both the glacier valley and the glacier stretching up the mountainside. Your small group is guided up the glacier passing through caves,
On the glacier
past glacial streams, and around deep and seemingly endless crevices. Along the way, your guide ensures the path you take is free from the very real dangers of ice and rock falls.
The half-day hike takes approximately four hours and gets you almost two hours of ice time. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Walking around a glacier is an absolute surreal experience and well worth the money.
Thinking of taking a hike on Franz? Here are some details to get you started:
Where?Franz Josef Village is essentially in the middle of nowhere. The nearest large town is Greymouth, a good two hours north. Food, drink, petrol, etc. are significantly more expensive here in Franz. Plan accordingly. Book your accommodation well in advance – everything from four star to budget accommodation fills up nightly in the high season.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides are located on the high street in the village. There half day tours regularly fill up – book in advance.
How much? The Half Day Glacier Experience will cost you $105. The Full Day tour is $160. The Half Day tour gets you two hours on the ice – I felt this was plenty of time. Have some cash to blow? Check out their Heli-Hike Tour starting at $390. UPDATE: As the glacier has been retreating since publishing this post, there now is no longer the option of doing the half day tour for only $160. To actually get on the glacier, a quick helicopter trip is required due to unstable ice at the glacier’s face. The Franz Josef Ice Explorer is $325, but if you book through Planit NZ I can get it for you for $315 NZD. Book your Franz Trip here.
Is it worth the money?Yes. You won’t fully appreciate Franz unless you get up on him. Go for the Half Day tour!
Update as of August 11, 2014 the price of the Nevis Bungy has increased to $180. If you book through Planit NZ, I’ll take $10 off the price of the jump – just quote Backpacking Matt when booking!
A bungy jump is arguably one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do. To stand on the edge of a bridge and jump goes against everything that feels right. Every part of your body, your mind, your rational thinking conscience says, “no, absolutely not.” To overcome that voice in your head and make the leap of faith is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
Nevis Highwire Bungy
The more you think about the jump, the harder it gets. The pre-jump experience with AJ Hackett’s Nevis Highwire Bungy gives you plenty of time to think – this makes for a truly epic experience.
After checking in for my Nevis jump in Queenstown’s city center, I boarded an AJ Hackett shuttle bus which took me and about 20 other jumpers outside of town. The first stop was Kawarau Bridge – home of the world’s first commercial bungy jump in 1988. At Kawarau Bridge, about 15 people left the bus leaving only five brave souls to make their way another 10 kms to the Nevis Jump site. Not much was said on the bus ride – I sensed that everyone was as nervous as I was about the upcoming jump.
After turning off the SH 6, a quick 10 minute ride up a dirt road left us at the base of a steep mountain. We got off the shuttle bus and were asked to board a smaller, 4WD vehicle which made its way up a steep and winding gravel road.
As we neared the top of this road, our driver pointed out the wide open canyon to our right. Suspended above the canyon on a cable was the jump pod where I’d soon make the leap. My heart skipped a couple beats and I began to get a feel for what was to come – a massive jump.
After reaching the top of the hill, myself and the other jumpers were fitted with a harness, our weight was checked again, and we were led to the cable car which would bring us out over the canyon to the jump pod. The jump pod itself features a glass floor which provides some stunning views of the river on the canyon floor.
Getting ready to jump
When it was my turn to make the leap, I was positioned in a chair which appeared to either belong in a dentist’s office or a torture chamber. The bungy cord was strapped to my feet and I was given some last minute instructions for the jump. Of my biggest concern was the bit where I was to pull the cord to release my feet after the second bounce. This would allow me to be pulled back up to the pod in a seated position – as opposed to upside down. Seemed to be straight forward enough – unless perhaps you had just experienced 8.5 seconds of free fall!
After the instructions were clear, I ‘toed’ my way towards the jump point. A small, metal platform which juts off of the bungy pod. The cord was tossed over the edge leaving me again with the stomach turning feeling of what was to come. The jumpmaster counted down, “3, 2, 1, go Matt!” and I dove out, hands first, over the canyon below.
Words can’t begin to describe the feeling, the ground rush sensation you get as you plummet towards the canyon floor below you. I won’t even try. It’s a completely comfortable experience – no significant jerk as the bungy cord reaches it’s end. A smooth flow up, and again back down. The euphoric feeling is immediate, and lasts for hours after the jump. You’ll instantly begin thinking about when you can jump again.
Soaring through the canyon
The experience was a great one from start to finish. The team at AJ Hackett does a terrific job of both making you feel safe and comfortable. From the check in, to the harnessing up, to the jumpmaster who is your last contact before making the leap – everyone was professional yet fun. Both characteristics you want the day of your jump.
Thinking of taking the leap yourself? Here are some facts to get you started:
How high?134 meters (440) – Australasia’s highest jump!
How long will you fall?8.5 seconds
How much?The jump itself will cost you NZ$250 – all transport included. AJ Hackett also throws in a free shirt. If you want video and photographic proof, you’ll be out another $80. Not a cheap experience, but well worth it in my view.
Where?The check in for the jump is in Queenstown’s City Center at the Station Building. Allow about three – four hours from start to finish.
Is it worth it? Yes. It’s not a cheap experience, but well worth it in my mind. For $250, you’re getting a half day experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Taupo’s Bungy is pretty epic as well – but, you pay your $109, get your ticket, jump, and that’s you finished. AJ Hackett goes out of their way to make your jump an experience to remember.
In the days and weeks before my move to New Zealand, I developed a taste for one of New Zealand’s most well known exports – not lamb, but Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a beautiful wine known for its refreshing, crisp, and tropical taste. Some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc comes from Marlborough – I was determined to spend a day visiting the many wineries in the region.
The Marlborough region is New Zealand’s leading wine producing area. Its weather conditions are perfect for growing the cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc grape – extremely dry, warm and sunny days, complemented by cool nights. Marlborough is tucked away at the northern tip of the South Island amongst the plains of the Wairau River. A beautiful area of New Zealand with vineyards at times stretching as far as the eye can see. Two small communities complement the area – Blenheim (blen – um) and smaller Renwick.
While the weather hasn’t been as ideal as I would have hoped in the previous weeks, yesterday turned out to be the perfect day for a bike tour around the area: clear blue skies, plenty of sun, and a cool breeze. Plenty of companies offer guided van tours of the region – but I opted for a budget friendly way to explore Marlborough.
Armed with a slightly used bike, a water bottle, some panniers for bottles of wine, and a map, I set off to explore the area.
With over 60 wineries, there is no shortage of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Gewurztraminer to be tasted. The cellar doors of the wineries run the gamete from small, humble operations to more impressive places offering high-end meals, cheese tastings, and exquisitely decorated tasting rooms. Most tastings are free and include entry level, young Sauv Blans, aged Pinot Gris, and vintage reserves. White wines dominate the region, although the Pinot Noir grape also grows well with Marlborough’s cool climate.
With the dozens of wineries found throughout the region, you’re bound to find a few that stick out as your favorites. I’ve listed three that I feel you can’t miss:
1) Cloudy Bay was my first and most impressive stop. The tasting room is tucked amongst the wineries seemingly endless rows of grapes. A beautiful location is complemented by an impressive tasting room: filled with polished concrete, beautiful Marlborough artwork, and a great wall-sized window viewing dozens of oak barrels. A free, five wine tasting adds to the impressive mix.
2) Huia Vineyards makes the list thanks to the friendly, informative, and unpretentious tasting experience. A transplanted Aussie makes sure you leave Huia with a taste for their wines and an understanding of what goes into the production process.
3) Gibson Bridge Winery is a young, boutique, and family owned vineyard. Gibson Bridge only started their growing operations four years ago. Focusing on Pinot Gris, it’s a great stop if you’ve had enough Sauvignon Blanc for the day. Their motto is, ‘excellence through passion,’ and you can certainly sense Julie Simmonds’ passion as she tells you about their operation.
After a long day riding around Marlborough, you’ll want a nice place to stretch out, relax, and spend the night. Most of the wineries are found within a two or three mile radius of small and charming Renwick. Spend the night at Watson’s Way Backpackers.
Pat and Paul are a charming Kiwi couple who go out of their way to make you feel at home. The hostel features a well-equipped kitchen, a gorgeous garden with fruit trees, hammocks, and a beautiful enclosed patio. While I stayed in my campervan, the rooms appear to be clean, well-kept, and comfortable. As an added bonus, staying at Watson’s Way will allow you to hire bikes at $15/day (much better than Lonely Planet’s recommendation at $55 per person, per day).
Pat sets you up with all the necessities: panniers, maps, a helmet – but most importantly, heaps of advice on where to go to eat, drink, and get the most out of your time in beautiful Marlborough.
Kia Ora - I'm Matt. Adventurer, Instagrammer and New Zealand travel planning expert living in Queenstown, NZ. Founder of Planit NZ - New Zealand's largest travel planning & booking website.
Hello! I’m Matt. Thanks for checking out my blog. Be sure to follow me on Instagram for loads more New Zealand travel inspiration. Comment on one of my photos so I know you came from here!
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
Error: There is no connected account for the user 1660330 Feed will not update.
Backpacking Matt 
