We headed to Fox Glacier over the Haast Pass and did a couple of small walks on the way, including to the Blue Pools. When we got to Fox Glacier, we walked to the Glacier face and had a great clear view of the Glacier. We drove out to Gillespies Beach, and were lucky to see the clouds clear and have a view of Mt Cook. We then watched the sun set out to the west over the beach. There was a campsite at the beach, so we stayed there for 2 nights. On the morning we left, we did a small walk along the beach and went to see the old gold dredge from when they were mining nearby.

I had my birthday at Fox Glacier – we celebrated by driving through to Franz Josef and walking to the Glacier, going out for dinner and dessert in Fox, and then doing a sunset walk around Lake Matheson. Although Reuben and I have agreed that this year we won’t do presents, he still surprised me with some really thoughtful, sweet gifts (literally – a giant gobstopper, a candy necklace, and chocolate liqueurs were involved!) and we toasted marshmallows over a fire and went for a night walk at the beach – a very special birthday.