What is the Franz Josef Glacier Walk like? So there you have it, our guide to the #1 thing to do in Franz Josef and if the stars align and the weather is right, I’m sure this will be one of your absolute New Zealand must dos. The access road and tracks can be closed due to rock falls or flooded rivers, and glacier viewpoints may be hundreds of metres from the face of the glacier. It will take another 30-40 minutes to reach the actual glacier viewpoint, and your turnaround point. If you have been doing your research into weather in New Zealand, by now you will probably know to expect four seasons in one day. They are live webcams of Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier and this can help you make your plans. Book helicopter flights before you travel. My 4 year old walked this without any issues and my toddler walked sections of it. If you are looking at a family walk in Franz Josef Glacier, then the “Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk” is perfect. The hot pools even have a Private Pamper Package! From Franz Josef village to the glacier you will have to drive or walk over a one way bridge. Head south (towards Fox Glacier) and just after you cross the one way bridge, turn left down the road. One of the most signatures walks in the West Coast area is Franz Josef Valley Glacier Walk. and your turnaround point. Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk & Hot Pools . Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk price starts from US$56.70. This section of the track is likely to change with the weather. When the German explorer, Julius von Haast discovered the glacier in 1865, the glacier would have extended almost out to the Tasman sea. How long is the Franz Josef Glacier Hike with kids? Walk past a waterfall along the wide river stone track, suitable for children. Do heed their warnings. If you are planning for time, 2 hours would be plenty to experience it all at a leisurely pace. The start of the Franz Josef Glacier walk is located just south of the Franz Josef township. In the map above, if you zoom in on the walk, you’ll see all the following track points and their location. Book a single ticket to the main pools or enjoy the luxury of a private pool. Walk or cycle through bush from Franz Josef township to the Franz Josef Glacier car park. Franz Josef town has plenty of restaurants but only one IGA supermarket to buy your food from. There are seats here, you can see a waterfall to your right and you can see the glacier from here. Having travelled extensively in Europe and Africa, has lived in London and the USA and holidayed in many parts of Asia, she is not a newbie to the travel space. This summer the price was $12.50 each. I wish I could climb the glacier, but maybe I will climb Mt Everest instead one day to get on the ice. Depending on the amount of rain, will depend on how many you see. Franz Josef Glacier (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) was explored by local iwi and in 1865 by geologist Julius von Haast, who named it after the Austrian emperor.The glacier is five kilometres from the town of the same name, and a 1.5 hour walk will take you to within 750m of its terminal face. Depending on the amount of rain, will depend on how many you see. Do not fly your drone anywhere around Franz Josef. You can already see the top of the glacier from the carpark; Time: 30min return for the distance viewpoint at the end of the Forest walk; Time: 1h30 return to the glacier tongue viewpoint; Toilets at the carpark; Path is easy at the beginning. Franz Josef Glacier walk is an easy 1.5 hour round trip walk to the base of Franz Josef Glacier from the car park. It is a roped off section so you really can’t go any further. If you love visiting New Zealand glaciers, then you might also be interested in visiting the Fox Glacier, just 30 minutes drive south of Franz Josef, or seeing the Tasman Glacier in Mt Cook National Park. It is walkable from all the main lodgings in the township, but driving / cycling or hitching a lift is recommended, so you can concentrate your hiking efforts once you reach the car park. Sentinel Rock Walk, Franz Josef: See 47 reviews, articles, and 42 photos of Sentinel Rock Walk, ranked No.7 on Tripadvisor among 19 attractions in Franz Josef. Roberts Point track was the first track up the Franz Josef Glacier Valley. A bonus of doing these heli hikes in Franz Josef, is they often include entry to the Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools. Mt Cook Helicopter Flight and Tasman Glacier Walk. prices of flying and hiking on the glacier, click here, Take a drink bottle to fill up with water straight from the waterfalls (it tastes amazing). The new hot pools located right in Franz Josef town are an excellent place to relax and warm up after walking or hiking around the Franz Josef area. The walk is about 5.5km return. Are yours the same? One of the more adrenaline-fuelled ways to experience the Franz Josef Glacier is by skydiving over it. Top tips for the Franz Josef Glacier Hike. 3 hour guided valley walk to Franz Josef Glacier. It felt very adventurous except it was totally safe. Just six kilometres from the centre of the village, Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere descends from the tops of the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana into rainforest close to sea level. - free parking onsite, suitable for campervans too. My first heli hike was awesome as you got to wear crampons (so you could walk on the ice) and check out ice caves. That way, you can do both Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier with no stress. DOC have decided not to fix it. Peters Pool walk. You can’t get that close to the glacier face anymore because it’s receded too far. It is well signposted for Franz Josef Glacier and you just follow the road all the way to the end and there is (free) plenty of parking available. The minimum age to heli hike is usually around 8 years old. If you have been doing your research into weather in New Zealand, by now you will probably know to expect four seasons in one day.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'backyardtravelfamily_com-leader-2','ezslot_13',611,'0','0'])); One of the best things to help you plan your Franz Josef activities, is to check in on the webcams here. Highly recommend checking it out when you are in the area. If you want to actually make contact with the glacier, take a heli-hike or a guided ice walk. Other Franz Josef walks and things to do on the West Coast with kids. , mostly flat except for a small (1-2 min) incline at the end, to reach the Franz Josef Glacier viewpoint. Walking on a glacier is an incredible experience. Franz Josef Glacier / Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere is a 12 km (7.5 mi) long temperate maritime glacier in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km (12 mi) to the south, and a third glacier, it descends from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level. Nature and Wildlife. It felt very adventurous except it was totally safe. Do be aware that you cannot walk on the glacier here, you need to take a heli hike to do this and you will not see the glacier at close up range on this walk. and walk on the glacier itself with Franz Josef Glacier Guides. They estimate how long the walk will be too. Turn left after the bridge on to the Franz Josef Glacier Access Road. This 1.5 – 2 hour return walk will take you as close as you can walk to the Franz Josef Glacier and one a clear day, it’s quite breathtaking. This track starts from the Franz Josef glacier carpark and leads to a beautiful small pool which reflects the surrounding mountains. Skill level: Easy. It is always changing, but always expect rain and cold just in case. One of the best things to help you plan your Franz Josef activities, is to check in on the. I'd recommend a baby carrier or backpack for toddlers to hold them when they are tired. super views of the Glacier from around 750m away. Experience amazing glacier, waterfall and mountain views, whilst walking in beautiful forest on this advanced track with the safety of an experienced guide. 148 reviews. We’d love to hear from you. Need to know. A guided heli-hike glacier experience you will never forget! It really is worth waiting it out. Book a scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier & Fox Glacier, leaving and returning from Franz Josef town. From Franz Josef township drive south over the Waiho River bridge. If you have your heart set on seeing the glacier, allow an extra day in the region in case there is cloud. The walk to the glacier is an easy hike and is around 4km return. We actually walked in hiking boots because I just find them more stable, but they aren’t necessary, I just prefer them. You can pay for a shuttle to pick up and drop off from Franz Josef village. Travel agent should have been aware that the walk to Franz Joseph Glacier washed away in January 2020, and the river bed that one is meant to walk across to view the Glacier is under heavy, fast flowing flood water at present, 1st Nov 2020. As it rains a lot on the West Coast, the track to the glacier is often changing. But don’t worry it was restored in 1996. This took us around 90 minutes to 2 hours, but we also had a snack break and photo stop at the top, and we had to drink from every stream and waterfall that they found along the way.