– The walk from the car park to the terminal face viewpoint takes about 30 minutes. Fox Glacier (Māori: Weheka) is a village on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Hike Fox Glacier Valley on a guided walking tour that explores glaciology, geology, local plants, and animals. Its terminal face is just five kilometres from the village. Follow SH 6 from Queenstown, through Wanaka and Hawea to Haast all the way up to Franz Josef Glacier - you will be rewarded with some incredible scenery along the way. There’s an incredible range of options for visitors that wish to travel around the area. Helicopter ride that drops you onto the glacier and then hiking around the glacier, seeing all the different formations and can even walk or crawl through ice caves. And how much time should we budget for the round trip walk from nature center? As is already apparent, Fox Glacier is an incredibly beautiful area of New Zealand that truly caters for hikers and anyone seeking adventure. Venture through the pristine Fox Valley toward the face of the glacier on a terminal face walk. This is one of New Zealand's iconic road trip routes, taking approximately five hours by road plus breaks. It is about 13km long and ends only 300 metres from the sea. You can't get from Fox or Franz to Mt Cook without crossing the Southern Alps. Hike Fox Glacier Valley on a guided walking tour that explores glaciology, geology, local plants, and animals. The Glacier Valley Walk is a 90-minute hike (round trip) that will get you right up to the face of the glacier. Things to Do in Fox Glacier. Amongst the things to do in Franz Josef, there you can ride a helicopter, walk over the glacier, enjoy a hot pool, visit a wildlife center and see a kiwi, and walk a lot. Close to Fox Glacier is beautiful Lake Matheson, one of the most photographed lakes in New Zealand. The walk back is a lot easier majority downhill. The village is close to the eponymous Fox Glacier. Fox Glacier – Fox Glacier is the third largest glacier in New Zealand. Near Fox Glacier is beautiful Lake Matheson, famous for its mirror-like reflections of New Zealand’s highest peaks, on a clear day. If you want to see the glacier but don’t have the budget for a heli-hike, you can hit the trail to get a good view. Answer 1 of 3: I heard it's blocked due to safety reason this year. Both the Tasman and Franz Josef glaciers are located inside Te Wahipounamu park, while Fox glacier is just outside. Be amazed by the spectacular views of the mountain, glacier, and ice falls, before landing and hiking through the hard-to-reach terrain. First, you have one of the most scenic flights you can have in New Zealand (and the world, but we might be biased) as you fly over the Southern Alps, see Mt Cook and Fox Glacier. – Fox Glacier terminates just 12 kilometres from the Tasman Sea. You will see Mt Cook from around Fox, and if you wish you could fly from Fox to the Mt Cook air field, or you could do an overflight. The trail leads through podocarp rainforest to the first viewpoint. Did you know that you can also calculate the time it takes to fly to Fox Glacier 7886? So take a look at the travel time from Christchurch to Fox Glacier 7886. – It is 12 kilometres long and descends from the same height as Franz Josef Glacier, but is not as steep. There’s very little traffic and scenery is spectacular. Costello says DoC will do everything possible to ensure people can view Fox Glacier by foot or bike by the busy summer season. On a clear day it reflects Mount Cook. AMAZING! I live in beautiful Canadian Rockies and I have never seen that close of a view of the mountain and glaciers before. Take a look at the flight time from Christchurch to Fox Glacier … Get around . Listen carefully as you learn how to ride your horse safely which will build confidence quickly. You cannot see the glacier from the car-park just over the bridge, Unfortuntaly you are still a long way from the glacier but do get a nice view. We highly recommend doing the heli-hike with Fox Glacier Guiding. The terminal face of the glacier is less than 300 metres above sea level and is just one of two in Westland Tai Poutini National Park to be this close to the coastline. Lake Matheson is closest to Fox Glacier. Same in Fox Glacier, you can do a hike inside and complete with a helicopter transfer - Check out details and book Other things to do in the areas of Fox and Franz Josef The main attractions of the region are the glaciers, but know that there are other things you can enjoy between them. The closest regional airport to Fox Glacier Town is in Hokitika, which is 160km away and you can get a 45-minute flight from Christchurch. Excursions include a quick stop in the snow above the ice-falls on Mt. You will get to know your horse’s personality as each one has its own story to enjoy. Today, the route you should take to get the best views of Fox Glacier is called Fox Glacier South Side Walkway. When you arrive at Fox Glacier you immediately feel relaxed in its intimate, village atmosphere. You’ll probably be having a stay here for a night or so, before moving on. Bruce Bay is 46 km (29 mi) to the south-west of the village, and Franz Josef is 23 km (14 mi) north-east. Glacier Country is one of only two places in the world where you can view glaciers descending into temperate rainforest and the most accessible glaciers in the world. There is a large shared barbecue area and 3 shared kitchens with seating. Fed by four alpine glaciers, Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tuawe is longer and faster moving than the Franz Josef Glacier / Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Fox Glacier offers the best of the ocean and mountain. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. The towns are pretty small, so don’t expect much. Another popular road trip is from Wanaka to Fox Glacier which takes about 5 hours and boasts of some picturesque stops like Ship Creek. Skydive Over the Fox Glacier. Just nearby you can go ice climbing, relax in a geothermal hot pool or see glow-worms on a scenic forest walk. Franz and Fox are about 30 minutes drive from one another. For those who are happy to just immerse themselves in their forested surrounds there’s a short, easy one-hour loop trail that offers spectacular views of Fox Glacier – getting its visitors within a good 500-metre distance of the glacier’s terminal face. For a shorter trek, the Sentinel Rock trail is only 20 minutes long and will give you a solid view of the glacier. Fox Glacier is fed by four alpine glaciers, overflows into the Fox River, and travels into the lush rainforest, with an ice flow moving in areas at up to 3 metres per day. The next stop is at the Fox Glacier Village. One of the highlights of our lives. Walking alongside a local guide is a great way to learn the natural history of the Fox Glacier and the surrounding mountains, and should conditions allow, it means you can depart the main trail to explore an area that many visitors miss. Find all the transport options for your trip from Fox Glacier to Cromwell right here. (Lewis Pass, Arthurs Pass or Haast Pass).Although close in distance, Fox Glacier and Mt Cook are many hours apart by road. Rome2rio makes travelling from Fox Glacier to Cromwell easy. Skydiving over Fox Glacier is a double-whammy of epicness. Location. Walking alongside a local guide is a great way to learn the natural history of the Fox Glacier and the surrounding mountains, and should conditions allow, it means you can depart the main trail to explore an area that many visitors miss. Hike Fox Glacier Valley on a guided walking tour that explores glaciology, geology, local plants, and animals. Cook, Franz Joseph Glacier & fox glacier as the plane ride up to the desired height provides a spectacular view of the Tasman Sea, glaciers and the mountains. There are glow worm caves just a short walk from the town centre, which offers a good choice of cafes and restaurants. Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park accommodation features a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette facilities. You can arrange an ice-hiking adventure or booking a scenic flight. This is a great way to see Mt. If you carry on another 900 metres or so down to the river view, you will be slightly closer, with a slightly different view. You will be introduced to the joys of horse riding by your experienced guide who is passionate about their horses and showcasing the stunning Fox Glacier area. Cook's western face so you can get up close to the glacier. You will not get close to the glacier, and the views are surely not that great as from the former trail, but we should be grateful for what is available. Calculating the travel time to Fox Glacier 7886 is as important as knowing how to get there. Fox Glacier Valley Less than 6 kms from Fox Glacier township, the Fox Glacier Valley offers walking and cycling opportunities − each with different views of the glacier valley. Finally, you’ll pass through the tiny settlement of Bruce Bay and Jacobs Creek. Visitors can walk close to the face of Fox Glacier, but a guided tour is where the real adventure lies. Definitely plan A. Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier. Snow rarely falls in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier townships - but a whole lot of it falls in the nearby mountains, just what a glacier … Fox Glacier to Wanaka is 3 hours 14 minutes driving (262km) Fox Glacier to Franz Josef Glacier is 24 minutes driving (24km) Use this distance calculator to get an approximate travel time and distance between two points in New Zealand. **Afternoon:**If you want to spend more time on a glacier, book a heli-hike along the Franz Josef or Fox Glacier, and enjoy an adventurous trek on terrain usually only enjoyed by experienced mountaineers. What to do in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier Areas. Fox Glacier Hiking Trails You don’t need to spend big bucks to get big views of Fox Glacier: there are a number of excellent and free hiking trails in the area. On a helicopter tour you can get a close-up look at the Fox Glacier and go beyond what you can see on a simple walking tour. They're both interesting, but honestly I can't recommend one over the other. It has a stunning outlook across surrounding farms and offers breathtaking views of New Zealand’s highest peaks Aoraki (Mt Cook) and Mt Tasman. This moderate trail is the perfect way to get closer to the glacier than any unguided walkers without leaving your footprints on the ice. The route you take will depend entirely on how close you want to get to this majestic glacier.