Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier lies just 25kms South of Franz Joseph and has the more rural and quieter atmosphere of the two. The town of Fox Glacier supports the local farming community as well as sightseers. Approach walks to both glaciers are quite different in character, with The Fox Valley presenting more impressive rock formations, but smaller mountain faces than it’s cousin.There are many walks to choose from including a 30 minute river walk and a one hour 15 minute return walk to the Chalet Look out for spectacular glacier and mountain views. A track leads from the car park directly to the foot of the glacier. Scenic flights depart daily, mostly by helicopter and many combine a flight which includes both glaciers. It is worth visiting both Fox Glacier and Franz Joseph glacier while you are in the region with their close proximity to one another allowing you to explore both from one accommodation base. Helicopter flights depart daily and can also offer tours which fly over both glaciers. The DOC office and visitor centre provides information and maps on the area. If you don’t have your own transport, a shuttle service runs to the glacier and nearby Lake Matheson. Regular coastal bus services operate through both Fox Glacier and Franz Joseph making it easy to move around. The range of accommodation at Fox Glacier is more limited than at Franz Joseph, but the selection is still good with a mixture of home stays, inns, lodges, motels and backpacker hostels to choose from. Between the months of November and March it pays to book well in advance to avoid disappointment. For its relatively small size Fox Glacier has a good choice of reasonably priced cafes, a restaurant and a couple of lively bars. A visit to Lake Matheison is well worth the effort, rewarding you with fantastic views of Fox Glacier and the surrounding snow capped mountains. Photographers have the best chance for a perfect mirror photo of Lake Matheison at sunrise. The Matheson Cafe is beautifully located for a relaxing cup of coffee or cold drink. Other points of interest include a former gold settlement and seal colony at Gillespies beach which is just 10kms away.

Back in Fox Glacier the adrenalin junkies will love the Tandem Sky Diving which offers magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. Those interested in a more leisurely way to pass the time will enjoy the half hour stroll around the flat Minnehaha walk, which is surrounded by lush bush and native wildlife. Come after dark to experience the magic of the glow worms. The Fox Glacier experience is among the top ten things not to miss on the New Zealand tourist trail.

Franz Joseph Glacier

Nestled at the base of the mighty Southern Alps, Franz Joseph Glacier is one of the must see natural attractions New Zealand has to offer. The small village of Franz Joseph is so close to the glacier itself you can almost touch it. Magnificent from a distance this mighty wall of ice is even more impressive close up. The glaciers here descend so steeply that the rock cover doesn’t have time to build up and they remain pristine and white. There is an Alpine feel to the village with high pitched roofs and pine panelling dominating the landscape. On a fine day the skies above the village are abuzz with helicopters and light planes with some flights offering you the opportunity of a snow landing. The DOC office and visitor centre is a great place to start for a guide to the walks, flights and attractions in the area. Every half hour they show a documentary film on the whole South West New Zealand World Heritage area which includes limited coverage of the glaciers. There are many ways to explore Franz Joseph Glacier including half and full day guided trips. Heli hiking combines a short helicopter flight and a few hours on an exclusive area of ice caves and pinnacles you could never hope to reach on foot in a day. For the more adventurous a day of roped up Ice Climbing complete with plastic boots, crampons and ice tools will get the heart going. Heli Rafting combines air and river adventures for top fun around the mountains. Glacier hikes go in most weather, but on misty and wet days some of the scenic flights and heli hikes are sometimes called off. A good alternative on days like these is to take a guided kayak adventure on the rain forest fringed Lake Mapourika for a relaxed day out discovering the local plant and bird life.

Accommodation is a range of B&B’s, hostels, motels and hotels in Franz Josef Glacier. Between November and March it pays to book well in advance as locals and tourists make the most of the best weather conditions. There are a good choice of spunky cafes and lively restaurants at Franz Joseph which offer both indoor and outdoor dining. There is a shuttle service to the glacier road end as well as a series of local tours including Lake Matheson and a Lake Matheson combo with Fox Glacier. Franz Joseph is an appealing place and small enough to make you feel almost like a local. It’s close proximity to the glaciers combined with the number of fine walks and excellent heli rafting trips on offer make Franz Joseph a great spot to stop for a few days.

The New Zealand glaciers are one of the South Island's most important tourist attractions.

» Hotels in Franz Josef Glacier