Franz Josef Glacier in One Day: Travel Guide
No trip to the West Coast of New Zealand is complete without visiting Franz Josef Glacier. Read our comprehensive travel guide to Franz Josef, including tips on the best things to do, top activities, and practical information. Visit with us the capital of Glacier Country.
Dropping steeply from the Southern Alps to the rainforest of West Coast, Franz Josef Glacier is one of the must-visit places on New Zealand's South Island.
The same-name nearby village, Franz Josef township, is rightfully proud of this all the time expanding and retreating giant, that attracts the attention of locals and international travelers as well.
This part of the West Coast is also known as the Glacier Country, and it is one of the best destinations where a visitor can admire the mass of ice and imagine mother nature's power without making too much effort.
Yes, Franz Josef Glacier, same as its a slightly less popular brother Fox Glacier, are very accessible and all types of travelers, adventure seekers, but also people who like enjoying pretty views will find their happiness here.
Same as Wanaka or Queenstown, Franz Josef township is known for the vast selection of adrenaline activities, but also budget travelers who prefer relaxing in hot pools or hiking in the ancient rainforest will not leave this place disappointed.
If you came to this site to figure out whether Fox Glacier or Franz Josef is better then you must keep looking.
According to our experience, we think you should see them both when in the area as they are both doable in one day.
Of course, if you plan on doing an adventure activity such as scenic helicopter flight or hiking on the glacier, you need to choose carefully as these activities are not particularly cheap.
Still, even after having this experience, we would have stopped at the other glacier, at least to take a quick photo.
In this travel guide, we share with you the best things to see and do in Franz Josef, best activities, tips on how to plan your day, together with practical information on where to stay or how to get there.
ONE DAY IN FRANZ JOSEF - THINGS TO DO
If you've arrived in New Zealand for a vacation or just can splurge for a day or so, you would like to participate in an adrenaline activity in Franz Josef.
After all, seeing the glaciers from above is one of the best things you can do in this township. So how can you plan your one day in Franz Josef?
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
If we were you, we would book the activity for the morning if possible.
The weather in New Zealand changes often, and especially the West Coast of South Island is known as a place with super-high rainfall, so when you are booked for the morning, and the weather is not looking good, your activity can be still postponed for later.
Our Tip: Always bring a rain jacket with you while in West Coast.
It is also good to know that your trip can be canceled last minute because of the bad weather.
Even though it sucks, the safety of travelers and staff is always on the first place, so it is worth it to have a backup plan.
Fortunately, there are so many things to do around Franz Josef, even when it is raining, that it is not hard to replace your plans with new ones.
But back to the point. What are the adrenaline activities you can try in Franz Josef?
SKYDIVING
New Zealand is the place to go for adventure seekers, and Franz Josef is often the place where people try the crazy stuff for the very first time. Have you ever tried skydiving?
It is thrilling, but the experience is even better when mountain peaks surround you.
Your heart is pumping, and your eyes cannot take in all the beauty at once.
The dramatic area of Franz Josef goes well together with a skydiving tour, so just close your eyes, and do it.
KAYAKING
If you want to spend your time actively in Franz Josef, it still does not mean you must be jumping off things or be kilometers above the ground to appreciate the full potential of the area.
We absolutely understand that some people do not feel comfortable doing those types of activities, and it is completely fine.
One of the perfect things to do in Franz Josef is kayaking on Lake Mapourika.
The lake is only a few minutes drive from the township, and offers a peaceful experience in a unique landscape.
HELICOPTER FLIGHTS
It is somehow given that people are in awe when seeing a place from the bird's eyes view. It is a wonderful feeling, plus this perspective allows us to realize how small we are, and how brilliant the mother nature is.
The number one activity in Franz Josef is helicopter flight with a snow landing.
The panoramic glacial view is overwhelming.
If you already know your New Zealand itinerary, you should book the flight on your selected time and date as soon as possible, because many travelers arrive in Franz Josef to solely do this activity.
HELI-HIKING
From the ground, but even from the viewpoints, Franz Josef Glacier looks like a solid mass of ice that is covered by rocks and dirt.
But the glacier itself is much more varied when you stand on it.
If you want to see Franz Josef Glacier up close, consider taking the heli-hiking tour.
What can you expect?
You will land on the glacier, put on crampons, and then the experienced guide will show you dramatic ice formations, crevasses, the famous blue patches of just melted snow, snow caves, and much more.
QUAD BIKE TOUR
Franz Josef is a super-popular backpacking destination, and many new activities and services appeared in the past years to satisfy the demand.
If you want to go offroad, see the raw landscape, and understand the real wilderness of this region, taking the quad bike tour, might be exactly what you are looking for.
You will arrive back in the village wet and covered by mud, but this is what the real adventure is about - combining harsh conditions with the ultimate natural beauty.
After an exciting morning, grab lunch, but it would be too foolish to think you've seen it all.
We hope you still have enough energy left because the area around Franz Josef village offers several hiking trails that are waiting to be explored.
HIKING
One of the most signatures walks in the West Coast area is Franz Josef Valley Glacier Walk. The hike is pretty easy as it leads in the valley to the glacier's face.
Follow the Waiho river that is emerging from the glacier, and in about 45 minutes, you will arrive on the viewing platform.
Franz Josef Glacier is constantly moving, so do not go past the barriers, as this environment is harsh and very hazardous. If you feel you really need to get closer and touch the glacier, use the service of well-experienced guides.
As the glacier is at the moment retreating, it is interesting although sad how much of volume Franz Josef lost in the past few decades.
Naturalists, or simply people who want to learn more about local fauna and flora on the way to the glacier, can sign up for this walking tour.
Another must-do walk is a short stroll to Peters Pool, a small kettle lake formed by the glacier hundreds of years ago, that creates a mirror-like effect of reflections of mountain peaks around.
The great thing about the Franz Josef area is that there are many things to do and many walks that are suitable even for less experienced travelers.
You can find the full list of hikes on the official website.
If you are looking for something more demanding, the eight-hour Alex Knob Track or the five-hour Robert Points Track are the best spots.
Our Tip: When road tripping West Cost, bring bug repellent against the sandflies.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
HOT POOLS
The day in Franz Josef can be quite overwhelming. Fortunately, there is a place where a person can unwind after all day spent outside.
No matter how cold or rainy the day was, it will all flies away in Franz Josef Hot Pools.
The set of both public and private hot pools in a rainforest oasis will provide you with that much-needed relaxation.
We recommend you to reserve your spot for the evening. Sure, you can go anytime you want, but we feel that hot pools are the right way to finish the day.
You can buy either single-entry tickets for public pools or a private pool entry .
Even though we know you arrived here because of Franz Josef Glacier, visiting hot pools is one of the best places to visit here.
WHERE TO STAY IN FRANZ JOSEF
For such a small place, Franz Josef has a surprisingly large selection of hotels, motels, and hostels.
In the summer season and on long weekends the number of visitors quickly outgrow the number of locals living in this village, so if you already know your travel dates, we recommend you to book your room as soon as possible.
In case you could not find a place to stay in Franz Josef, try nearby Fox Glacier, but if seeing Franz Josef Glacier is something you want to do first thing in the morning, it is more convenient to spend the night here.
We've selected the best three accommodations in Franz Josef for every budget category to make your trip as smooth as possible.
Budget | Glacier Highway Motel - New Zealand is not a very budget-friendly destination, but on the other hand, when you pay a bit more for a room, you can see the service and quality behind every dollar you spend. This motel is reasonably priced and offers modern and clean accommodation with kitchenettes and parking.
Mid-range | Aspen Court Franz Josef - Surrounded by native trees, and when you take into account the wonderful reviews, there must be something about this hotel. Comfortable beds, well-decorated rooms, and friendly staff are the main positives here.
Luxury | Franz Josef Oasis - The rooms are spotlessly clean, spacious, and well-equipped. If you are looking for a fantastic retreat in the Glacier Country and can afford it, this might be the right place for you.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.
HOW TO GET TO FRANZ JOSEF
Franz Josef is a must-visit stop on every itinerary. Even though public transport in New Zealand is not that great, getting to Franz Josef without your own car is actually quite easy.
Buses run between Franz Josef and Wanaka, Queenstown, Fox Glacier, Greymouth, or even Nelson.
Shuttle service is also quite popular in the area, in case you want to travel short distances.
It is even possible to travel to Franz Josef from Christchurch, even though it requires a combination of transport services.
The very popular train from Christchurch to Greymouth leads via Arthur's Pass - home to our favorite Avalanche Peak Track - and from Greymouth, you then need to take a bus to Franz Josef.
We were very happy to travel the West Coast of New Zealand in our car - check the rental car rates - as we could adjust the itinerary according to our needs.
And thanks to it getting around New Zealand was much more comfortable, and we could better enjoy all the best things Franz Josef had to offer.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
