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U.S.FTC GUIDELINES PLEASE NOTE: we act as an affiliate for several companies that feature on our website. In some cases we may earn a commission from referrals to those companies. For further information please refer to our Privacy and Disclaimer policies which can be found in the "US" tab.
Come and see the amazing New Zealand glaciers
New Zealand glaciers are are some of the most accessible in the world, and are one of the many stunning attractions in this beautiful country.
A visit to see them should be on your "must do" list if you are visiting New Zealand.
New Zealand is home to over 3,000 glaciers with an area of 1 hectare or more. The majority of these are located along the main mountain range on the South Island, known as the Southern Alps.
New Zealand's North Island is also home to 18 glaciers, all of which are on the active volcano,
Mt Ruapehu.
The largest of these are Summit Plateau, Whangaehu, and Mangatoetoenui.
On
the South Island there are numerous larger glaciers covering more than
10 hectares, and these include Franz Josef (12 kilometres in length),
Fox (13 kilometres in length), Hooker, Tasman (29 kilometres long),
Volta, Murchison and Mueller.
Come and meet the "twins"
Perhaps the best known, and most
frequently visited glaciers are the "twins" of Franz Josef and Fox. Both
are located on New Zealand's ruggedly beautiful
West Coast
and are supported by nearby villages with a range of accommodation and
facilities.
Franz Josef
Glacier and Fox Glacier share the almost unique feature of being the
only two which terminate in low level rainforest, around 250
meters above sea level.
Apart from New Zealand, the only other place where this happens is in Argentina in South America.
Getting here
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are accessed by State Highway 6 which runs along the South Island's West Coast.
If driving from Christchurch, the trip takes around 5 hours each way, via State Highway 73, then SH 6.
The drive from Queenstown to Franz Josef also takes around 5 hours each way, via SH 6.
Please refer to our State Highways map.
What's the best way to see the New Zealand glaciers?
There are several ways to see the New Zealand glaciers.
Scenic
flights by plane or helicopter are always popular, and provide amazing
views. Several years back we were lucky enough to take a helicopter
flight and snow landing on Franz Josef and it was an amazing,
unforgettable experience, and one that we can highly recommend.
Scenic flights are readily available from Franz Josef and Fox villages,
Mt Cook
and New Zealand's "Adventure Capital",
Queenstown.
Franz Josef is the most accessible glacier, and you can walk unguided
to the face of Franz Josef (about a 30 minute, level walk from the car
park).
Guided walks are also popular, and range from easy walks
to the face of Franz Josef, to more strenuous ice hikes and climbs.
As you can see from the pictures on this page, the scenery is amazing. Huge ice walls, shaded in blues, large crevasses, massive snow fields, and of course spectacular views of surrounding countryside.
Make sure to pack your camera!
Search through a huge range of tours for the New Zealand glaciers
There are various tour options available and you can read customer reviews, check availability and prices, make bookings, and learn more about them right here.
Highly recommended tours
Here are a few of the more popular and highest rated tours (be sure to read the reviews for these outstanding tours):
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Franz Josef Glacier Small Group Ice Walk |
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Franz Josef Glacier Valley Guided Walk |
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Franz Josef Heli Flight and Snow Landing |
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Fox Glacier and Mount Cook Heli Flight |
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The unique Glacier Explorer's Tour from Mount Cook
If you are looking for a unique way to see a New Zealand glacier, check this out.
The hugely popular Glacier Explorers tour which runs from late August to the end of May, operates from Mt Cook village.
A short coach trip delivers you to the Tasman Valley.
From there it's an easy 30 minute walk to your boat, where you board for a breathtaking guided tour on the Terminal Lake of the mighty Tasman Glacier.
And if conditions are right, be prepared for the amazing sight of huge icebergs floating in the lake!
A highly recommended tour.
Where Can I Find More Information On New Zealand's Glaciers?
New
Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) has a vast amount of
information on New Zealand's glaciers and National Parks, including
details of the many walks available.
Click on the following link to visit the
DOC
website. The site is easy to navigate and there is also a handy search function at the top of the page.
For more information on Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, you can visit the West Coast tourism site
West Coast NZ.com
Map
New Zealand Glaciers - Top Of Page
