The Budget & Backpacking Guide to Franz Josef & Fox Glacier

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What is the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area?

The district of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, also known as Glacier Country, is included in one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, meaning the land has significant international importance.

Other locations around the world classed as World Heritage Areas include the Pyramids of Giza and the Amazon Rainforest – just to help you put this title into perspective.

In addition to its natural importance, the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area is historically significant as it was part of a gold mining era.

Find out more about what a UNESCO World Heritage area is here.

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How to Experience the Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier doesn’t just refer to the glacier itself, but the town too. With that in mind, there are many ways to experience the glacier and its surrounding landscapes when backpacking in Franz Josef.

Franz Josef Heli-Hike

New Zealand’s busiest glacier! The only way to get a guided walk on the Franz Josef Glacier is to go by helicopter. This will mean digging into your pockets for the big bucks, but as a hugely acclaimed activity for its uniqueness, many would say it is definitely worth it.

Get amongst it all by climbing on top and inside the glacier with Franz Josef Glacier Guides and The Helicopter Line.

After your icy hike, we recommend a session at the Waiho Hot Tubs where you can warm up in a native bush environment.

If you miss your heli-hike experience in Franz Josef, you can also try heli-hiking on the Tasman Glacier with INFLITE Experiences in Mt Cook!

Skydiving

If you want another perspective of the glacier with a dose of adrenaline, you can skydive over it – a certainly stunning landscape to do a skydive.

One of New Zealand’s highest tandem skydives is in Franz Josef with Skydive Franz & Fox Glacier. They are also the only ones offering skydiving from the helicopter!

Learn more about the skydive, as well as compare it to others around the country, using the 10 Best Places to Tandem Skydive in New Zealand.

Kayaking on Lake Mapourika

Looking to get on the water? The kayaking on Lake Mapourika with Franz Josef Wilderness Tours, north of Franz Josef, is stunning!

The mirror-like water is perfect for taking those travel selfies. Oh yeah, and the Southern Alps view and the peaceful rainforests are good too.

See more things to do in the area in the 20 Epic Things to Do in Franz Josef and 10 Things to Do in Franz Josef on a Rainy Day.

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The Best Walks Around Franz Josef Glacier

There are ways of seeing the Franz Josef Glacier without going over your backpacker budget. And, that’s by getting off your butt and walking! Although there is a guided valley hike, which covers the glacier-formed valley Franz Josef has left behind, you can take the walks unguided.

As the glacier is 5 km (3 mi) from Franz Josef township, you will either need a car or walk the Te Ara a Waiau Walkway/Cycleway which takes one hour to walk one way. Carry on your walk on one of the 10 tracks around the glacier. However, be sure to check if the track you plan to take is open, as the environment is ever-changing.

Franz Josef Walking Tracks

• The Tatare Tunnels – This 1-hour track walks you through history in the old gold mining tunnels. For more gold mining remains, take a 1h30min detour on the Callery Gorge Walk. Remember to take a torch!
• Lake Wombat Track – For utter peace and tranquillity, take the Lake Wombat Track through a rimu forest to a quiet lake.
• Sentinel Rock Walk – For you lazy people out there looking for a Franz Josef Glacier view, take the 20-minute walk from the end of the Glacier Access Road.
• Alex Knob Track – In total contrast to the previous walk, take the steep 8-hour return to one of the most mind-blowing views of the glacier! The track starts about 2km from the township. Take the Glacier Access Road.

And for something a little different from the above two walks, do the Terrace Walk at night to see glowworms! Take a torch and wander down this well-formed trail accessible from Franz Josef village. Look under and around the fallen tree branches beside the track to see the blue shimmering of the glowworms. Otherwise, this is still a pleasant walk to do in the daytime to admire the lush rainforest. The walk takes 30 minutes to complete the return walk.

See more recommendations in the 10 Best Walks in Franz Josef.

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How to Experience the Fox Glacier

Named after Sir William Fox, Prime Minister of New Zealand in the late 1800s, Fox Glacier is the longest glacier on the West Coast. It is not as well-known as Franz Josef, but it is an off-the-beaten-track location backpackers are often pleased they make the time to visit!

Heli-Hike on the Fox Glacier

The glacier activities on offer are very similar to Franz Josef, except the ice climb here is bigger, just so you know… You are more likely to experience ice caves here too due to the funnel-like shape of the valley. Heli-hikes are available with Fox Glacier Guiding.

Helicopter Flights

Get closer to Fox Glacier and the alpine environment of the Southern Alps with a scenic flight from Fox Glacier town.

Flights with The Helicopter Line and Glacier Helicopters allow you to see both the Fox Glacier and the Franz Josef Glacier, along with a snow landing above the ice falls. Flights last approximately 30 minutes.

For more ways to see the glaciers, check out the 10 Ways to Take on New Zealand’s Glaciers, as well as more experiences in the Fox Glacier township in the 10 Best Things to Do in Fox Glacier.

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The Best Walks Around Fox Glacier

Like Franz Josef, there are walking trails nearby Fox Glacier that are ideal for backpackers.

• Fox Glacier South Side Walkway/Cycleway – The 2-hour return sees remnants of the glacier through glacier moraines and new forest growing atop them. There are two lookouts to the Fox Glacier.
• Copland Track – For an epic hiking adventure, take the 2-day hike to the most scenic natural hot pools in New Zealand: the Welcome Flat Hot Pools. We recommend going in summer to walk past beautiful flowers.
• Lake Matheson – See one of the most reflective lakes in New Zealand with views of Aoraki Mt Cook reflecting in the water. The loop takes 1h40min to complete (see below for more details).

Whatever walk you decide to do, ask at the local i-SITE for track updates, as these can change due to climate and changing environment. See more walks in the 10 Best Walks in Fox Glacier.

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Lake Matheson

It’s impossible for this lake not to look good in a photograph; that’s why the 14,000-year-old Lake Matheson is worth a visit while backpacking in Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.

The famous reflective lake has the reflections of New Zealand’s tallest mountain, Aoraki Mt Cook, and Mt Tasman.

The easy track from the car park is wheelchair-friendly up to the jetty for lake viewing, but not easily accessible after this point.

The jetty walk is an easy 40 minutes return, or you can do the entire lake loop in around 1 hr 30 mins.

The whole lake walk takes just an hour. Try and spot some of the lake’s native eels.

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Glacier Country Wildlife

Wildlife around Franz Josef and Fox Glacier usually consists of a kea parrot here and there. These highly entertaining alpine parrots are infamous for pecking the rubber seals off cars.

Okarito Lagoon

For an alternative landscape of the Franz Josef area and a seriously underrated attraction, Okarito Lagoon is well worth seeking out. It’s a 30-minute drive from Franz Josef but it’s one of the most unique ecosystems in New Zealand by being the largest unmodified wetland in the country.

Visit New Zealand’s only kotuku (white heron) nesting site. Either try your luck at spotting the rare bird while walking one of the walking trails or join Okarito Eco Boat Tours or Okarito Kayaks for a tour of the lagoon.

Take the Okarito Coastal Walk (3 hrs 30 mins return) to wander through the habitat of more than 76 species of native birds.

West Coast Wildlife Centre

Admittedly, you won’t find “cheap” activities in Franz Josef but you will find attractions that are “cheaper” than the rest and that includes the West Coast Wildlife Centre.

Costing around NZ$40 per adult, their Unlimited Pass gives you access to the main centre to see young kiwi birds in the nocturnal house where they grow to be strong enough to be released into the wild. While this is the South Island’s largest kiwi hatchery, you won’t get to see kiwi chicks unless you pay extra for the Backstage Pass.

Other attractions the Unlimited Pass also includes an interactive glacier exhibition.

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Cheap Eats in Franz Josef

You are in a small village whose sole income is tourist dollars… With that in mind, almost all of the food offerings in Franz Josef are at the highest end of the price spectrum.

An exception, however, is when Monsoon Bar & Restaurant (46 Cron Street), which does all-you-can-eat pizza nights! You pay around NZ$20 (price subject to change) to sit at a large table with your fellow budget travellers to eat endless amounts of gourmet pizza, typically with a drink included. The event is usually advertised on posters around the Rainforest Retreat accommodation.

Finally, you’ll also find affordable cabinet food at the West Coast Wildlife Centre Cafe (Corner of Cowan and Cron Streets), ranging from homemade sausage rolls and pies to quiches all under NZ$10 each.