Itinerary
Fox Glacier
About 25km from Franz Josef Glacier via SH6 is Fox Glacier. Named after Sir William Fox, NZ’s then-prime minister, the glacier is 300-metres deep and its terminal face is just 5km from the village. It’s worth a short stop at Fox Glacier to see this mountain-descending ice, even if you have already visited Franz Josef Glacier. At the very least, take a beautiful walk around Lake Matheson. Most activities offered at Franz Josef are offered in Fox Village: glacier walks, flights and so on.
Fox Glacier DOC Visitors Centre
(Location: Along Main Road, SH6, Fox Glacier Village; Operating hours: Daily 9:00am-12:30pm & 1:00pm-4:30pm; Phone: +64 3 751 0807; Website: www.glaciercountry.co.nz)
Sights & Activities
1) Glacier Guided Walks
This has to be the main purpose of your trip to Fox Glacier. You have to experience the guided walk to the Glacier, or your trip will virtually be incomplete.
• Fox Glacier Guiding
Fox Glacier Guiding provides guided walks for small groups, thus more personal attention for all. Let their professional and friendly guides lead you on to an incredible world of ice to explore its spectacular formations. They offer professional guided trips for a variety of glacier experience; ½-day, full-day, ice climbing or even heli-hike.
(Location: Fox Glacier Guiding Building, along Main Road, SH6, Fox Glacier Village; Departure times: Daily 9:05am, 10:05am, 1:35pm, 2:35pm for ½-day tour; 9:20am, 10:20am for full-day tour; Rates: Adult/Child/Family $79/$46/$199 for ½-day tour, $115 for full-day tour; Phone: +64 3 751 0825, 0800 111 600; Website: www.foxguides.co.nz ; Email: info@foxguides.co.nz )
2) Walks
There are numerous scenic trails treks which you can feast your eyes on. Don’t forget your cameras!
• Lake Matheson Walk: One-hour 30-min return walk, it is 6km down Cook Flat Road, and boast one of the most charming views in New Zealand – Lake Matheson.
• Fox Glacier Valley Walk: One-hour return walk, walk up the riverbed to the terminal face of Fox Glacier.
• Chalet Lookout Walk: One-hour 30-mins return walk, crossing meandering mountain streams, it leads to a viewpoint of the Fox Glacier.
3) Sky diving
Largely considered as New Zealand’s most scenic skydive location, take off with views over Lake Matheson, the Tasman Sea and the coastal views from Haast to Hokitika, and the Southern Alps.
• Skydive NZ
Enjoy one of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenic flight and trilling tandem skydive you can imagine. Experience a 360º bird’s eye view of one New Zealand’s most stunning coastal, rainforest, alpine and glacier scenery (including Mt Cook).
(Location: Fox Glacier Airstrip, Fox Glacier; Rates: $245 for 9000ft, $285 for 12000ft; Phone: +64 3 751 0080, 0800 751 0080; Website: www.skydivingnz.co.nz ; Email: skydivenz@yahoo.com )
4) Aerial Sightseeing
Experience the spectacular sights of and around Fox Glacier by ski planes and helicopters.
• Fox & Franz Josef Heliservices (by Alpine Adventures)
Explore the majestic Fox Glacier before flying by the sheer west faces of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. A snow landing provides opportunities to photograph the magnificent scenery.
(Location: Alpine Guides Building, along Main Road, SH6, Fox Glacier; Rates: $175-$235; Phone: +64 3 751 0866, 0800 800 793; Website: www.scenic-flights.co.nz ; Email: info@scenic-flights.co.nz )
• Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters
Glacier Helicopters offers a range of scenic helicopter flights from 20 to 40 minutes. It has pioneered glacier and snow landings in New Zealand since 1970. It has ever since provided exceptional alpine experiences, enabling thousands of visitors to interact and enjoy some of the most spectacular wonders of the natural world.
(Location: Along Main Road, SH6, Fox Glacier; Rates: $175-$345; Phone: +64 3 751 0803, 0800 800 732; Website: www.heli-flights.co.nz ; Email: fox@glacierhelicopters.co.nz )
• Helicopter Line
The rugged West Coast is hemmed between the Tasman Sea and the imposing Southern Alps, making for spectacular contrasts in the surrounding scenery. The Helicopter Line flies from both Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier villages, with an operating base situated on the main road of each.
(Location: Along Main Road, SH6, Fox Glacier; Rates: $180-$355; Phone: +64 3 751 0767, 0800 807 767; Website: www.helicopter.co.nz ; Email: fox@helicopter.co.nz )
