By air
Hokitika (HKK), ~2 h by road
Australia & New Zealand · New Zealand
Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
A glacier falling into rainforest
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to April — summer
Don't miss
Franz Josef Glacier
Fox Glacier
Lake Matheson
Peters Pool
Things to do
Heli-hikes on the ice
The valley walk
The hot pools
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Jörg Hempel · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
What to pack
Waterproofs, warm layers
A quieter corner
Okarito Lagoon, kayaking among white herons
Questions travellers ask
How can I get onto Franz Josef Glacier?
Take a heli-hike on the ice. Or do the valley walk, then unwind in the hot pools.
What else is there near Franz Josef Glacier?
Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson and Peters Pool. For a quieter outing, kayak among white herons on Okarito Lagoon.
When should I visit Franz Josef Glacier?
November to April, in summer. Pack waterproofs and warm layers.
How do I get to Franz Josef Glacier?
Fly into Hokitika (HKK), about 2 h away by road. Try the West Coast whitebait fritters while you're there.
About Franz Josef Glacier
- Mountains
- Forest
Where it is
Franz Josef Glacier, Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere, descends from the Southern Alps towards temperate rainforest on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, beside the small town of Franz Josef.
History
In Māori legend the glacier formed from the frozen tears of Hine Hukatere, who mourned her lover after he was killed by an avalanche in the mountains. The German geologist Julius von Haast named it in 1865 after the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I. Like neighbouring Fox Glacier it has retreated sharply in recent decades, and visitors now reach the ice mainly by helicopter.
People
Franz Josef is a small West Coast town of guides, pilots and hospitality workers, and the area lies within the traditional lands of Ngāi Tahu, whose local rūnanga is Ngāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio. English is the everyday language, and whitebait fishing in spring and dairy farming are West Coast traditions.
Known for
- Heli-hikes on the glacier ice
- The glacier valley walk
- Nearby Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson
- The glacier hot pools
- Okarito Lagoon's white herons
Did you know?
Franz Josef Glacier reaches down to within a few hundred metres of sea level, where it shares its valley with temperate rainforest.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.