Short answer: Franz Josef and Fox are two glaciers about half an hour apart on the South Island's West Coast. Today the only way onto the ice is a guided heli-hike or a scenic flight with a snow landing. Valley walks give a view of the ice from below. Build in a spare weather day, because flights stop in low cloud and heavy rain.
The glaciers sit in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, where the Southern Alps fall to the Tasman Sea within a short distance. Clients see ice, rainforest and coast in one place, which is why the West Coast is on so many South Island programmes. It is also one of the wettest parts of the country, and the way people visit the glaciers has changed. This guide sets out what to sell and how to plan around the weather.
How glacier visits have changed
Both glaciers have retreated a long way. The Department of Conservation (DOC) says the landscape is "on the move every day" and that helicopters are now the only safe way to get people onto the glacier for guided walks. Clients who remember walking up to the ice on an earlier trip need to know this before they arrive.
There are three ways to see the glaciers:
- Valley walks. At Franz Josef, a DOC track leads from the car park at the end of the glacier road up the valley to a viewpoint of the ice. The Fox Glacier valley road has been closed since 2019 because of a large landslide, so clients see Fox from the South Side Walkway, a rainforest track on the other side of the river to a viewpoint well back from the glacier. Both walks are free and suit most clients with sensible shoes, but DOC has trialled paid parking at the Franz Josef glacier car park, so we confirm parking arrangements at quotation.
- Heli-hikes. A short helicopter flight onto the ice, then a few hours of guided walking with boots and crampons supplied. This is the experience most clients picture.
- Scenic flights. Helicopter or small-plane flights over the névé, often with a snow landing. Good for clients who cannot walk far but want to see the glaciers from above.
DOC is clear that visitors must stay on marked tracks and never cross barriers in the valleys. River levels can rise within minutes after rain. We brief every group on this.
Weather decides the day
The West Coast has a lot of rain, and helicopter operations depend on cloud and wind. Flights are often cancelled at short notice. For this reason:
- Plan two nights, so a cancelled flight can move to the next morning.
- Book the flight for the first morning and keep the second free as the back-up.
- Have a plan B ready: rainforest walks, the valley viewpoints, or a visit to the coast.
- Explain the refund rules to the client before departure. Operators set their own cancellation terms; we confirm them at quotation.
Summer days are long and usually the most settled, but rain can come in any month. Winter can bring clear, cold spells that are very good for flying.
Franz Josef or Fox?
The two villages are small and offer similar services, with accommodation, cafés and helicopter operators in each. Franz Josef is the larger of the two and has more beds, which matters for groups. Fox is close to Lake Matheson, known for reflections of Aoraki / Mount Cook on still mornings, and a good walk for an early start.
For most groups we choose one base and add the other glacier as a viewpoint stop on the drive.
Routing the West Coast
The glaciers sit on State Highway 6, the main road along the coast. Typical routes are:
- From the north, through Hokitika, after the TranzAlpine train or a drive from Christchurch over Arthur's Pass.
- From the south, from Wānaka or Queenstown over the Haast Pass, a long and very scenic day.
Drive times are long, roads are winding and there are few towns between stops, so we plan fuel, meal and comfort stops carefully. Slips and weather can close the Haast Pass for a time; we watch road conditions before every departure. See our notes on self-drive and campervans and on scenic rail and Cook Strait ferries.
What to brief your client on
- Bring warm layers and a waterproof jacket, even in summer.
- Sandflies are common on the West Coast; insect repellent helps.
- Heli-hikes have weight and fitness requirements, and a minimum age. We check each client against them.
- A flight may be cancelled on the day. This is normal and is not a failure of the itinerary.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We plan West Coast stays for group tours and FIT and tailor-made clients, with adventure activities such as heli-hikes, hotels in Franz Josef and Fox, and coach and private transfers. See our Franz Josef and Fox Glacier destination pages.
FAQ
Can clients still walk onto Franz Josef or Fox Glacier? Not on foot. The Department of Conservation says helicopters are the only safe way to get people onto the glacier for guided walks. Valley walks lead to viewpoints of the ice from below.
How many nights should a group spend at the glaciers? We suggest two nights, so a helicopter flight cancelled by weather can move to the next morning.
Is Franz Josef or Fox better for groups? Franz Josef is larger and has more beds. Fox is close to Lake Matheson. We usually choose one base and visit the other glacier on the drive.
How do clients reach the glaciers? By State Highway 6, either from the north through Hokitika or from the south over the Haast Pass from Wānaka or Queenstown.
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
