On our return trip from Fox Glacier to Hokitika, we stopped to see Franz Josef Glacier (especially since it hadn't been on our itinerary in 2005). The signs near the carpark indicated that the walk from Sentinel Rock was "easy" and short (20 min return). However, this information was calibrated for Kiwis (who are in much better shape than Americans). Anna made it up the slope for a couple of hundred metres, then turned back to the carpark. Kent made it up to viewing platform to see the glacier, which is larger than the Fox Glacier just down the road. There was a set of cards on the platform that showed where the glacier had been at various years from 2010 back to 1907. It's grown a bit since 1965, but retreated from where it was in 1950. Back in 1907, the glacier filled most of the valley and we wouldn't have had to walk very far to see it from the carpark. We took it easy on the rest of the drive back to Hokitika, stopping only at Lake Mapourika for a couple of photos. The lake was definitely lovely, but a bit chilly for a swim!
