Imagine taking a helicopter and landing on a glacier high in the Southern Alps, steeped in the splendour and stillness of snow. Franz Josef Glacier is surrounded by untamed rainforest, is at a height of 3000 metres above sea level and stretches over 12 kilometres. Would you like to leave your footprint through glacial tunnels, along deep crevasses and into hollow ice caves?
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Franz Joseph Glacier, known to locals as Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere, is on the west coast of the South Island. It was named after the Austrian emperor by geologist Julius von Haast, who was exploring the area in 1865. Located in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park and high in the Southern Alps, it is 12 kilometres long and 3000 metres above sea level.
Two of the most outstanding features of Franz Josef are that it is the steepest and one of the fastest moving glaciers in New Zealand. It has been captured as moving at speeds of up to four to five metres per day which is incredible. This means that it is an ever-changing landscape of crevasses, tunnels, blue glaciers and ice caves making it the most popular tourist attraction on the west coast.
Franz Josef Glacier is renowned for its steep drop from the Southern Alps to near sea level while Fox Glacier has a more gradual descent. The steeper rock face of Franz Josef means that there is a more dramatic movement of the ice making it the fastest commercially guided glacier in the world. There are more options for shops and restaurants in Franz Josef and of course, it also boasts amazing hot pools.
Fox Glacier is longer than Franz Josef, is fed by four alpine lakes and its terminal face is five kilometres from the village. It is easily accessible and close to the most photographed Lake Matheson. Both glaciers are incredible natural wonders and we'd recommend visiting both when you are on the west coast.
"I am a huge fan of scenic flights! No matter if it's a flight across Lake Tekapo or Mount Cook, a helicopter flight above Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers or a trip to Cape Reinga - it's always special to see the natural beauty of NZ from a bird's eye view."
Nicole, Travel specialist
Embark on a scenic helicopter ride to the glacier and go on a 2-hour guided hike through sculpted ice formations and caves. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience as the landscape is forever changing making no two hikes the same.
The glacier is a five-kilometre walk from Franz Josef town. The hike is considered easy and will take an hour to one hour thirty minutes to complete. You'll walk over small foot-bridges across the river and past a few waterfalls. This activity is family-friendly and can be done without a guide. There are several information boards along the way explaining the history and geography of the area.
Could there be anything more relaxing and indulgent than soaking in a glacier-fed hot pool after a day of hiking? Sitting snug in the heart of town and encompassed by native rainforest are three main pools with temperatures ranging from 36 degrees to 40 degrees Celcius. Spoil yourself with a pampering spa treatment after you've warmed your muscles in the hot pools.
If there are two lakes you cannot miss while you are in the Frans Josef Glacier area, it is Lake Mapourika and Lake Matheson. Why not enjoy a sunset kayak over Lake Mapourika while soaking up the spectacular views of the Southern Alps and glaciers set against a backdrop of the ancient rainforest? Or you could take a sunrise walk around Lake Matheson observing the beautiful reflections of Mount Cook in its quiet waters.
Fox Glacier is a 25-minute drive from Franz Josef Glacier town via State Highway 6. Surrounded by lush farmland and fed by four alpine glaciers, perhaps one of its greatest draw-cards is that it is near the exquisite Lake Matheson.
The Fox Glacier Walk is an easy 2.6-kilometres, one-hour return walk that is fun to do with the family. At night you can follow the bush track along the lake's edge and spot glow worms in the dark. Adventurous activities are aplenty at Fox Glacier, with glacier hikes and scenic flights being the most popular.
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Register nowIf you are staying in Franz Josef town it is a seven-minute drive to Franz Josef Glacier. The distance is five kilometres and you can also choose to walk (1 hour 30 minutes) or cycle there.
Driving distance from the nearest towns:
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