Franz Josef Glacier
- Visit: 1–2 hours
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Why go
- Guided walks on the ice, reached by helicopter and set down between the first and second icefalls for one to two hours
- The view from Alex Knob, 1,303 m high, over the glacier, on an 8-hour day walk
- The valley walk and its lookout, about 3000 m from the glacier's terminal face
- The Waiho River, which flows out from the glacier's terminal
Opening hours
Today00:00 – 23:59Show all
The trail
- duration
- 8 hours for the Alex Knob day walk Alex Knob is 1,303 m high and overlooks the glacier. A guided walk on the ice after a helicopter drop takes about 1 to 2 hours.
- difficulty
- Glacier walks need an ice axe and crampons Usually supplied by tour operators.
- start
- Car park at the end of the sealed road from the highway Several short walks start here.
Season and conditions
- Open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
- Walks with or without a guide, on or to the glacier, are possible.
- Torrential rain destroyed the Waiho River bridge in March 2019; replacing it took 18 days.
Safety
- Walking on the glacier needs a helicopter overflight permit, since 2012, to reach the unstable tongue.
- The ice front is too dangerous to approach; warning signs mark the viewpoint.
What you see
- Native forest growing on the bare rock the glacier left behind as it retreated.
- Several ridges of moraine rock in the valley, left by repeated melting and regrowth of the ice.
- The glacier itself, 12 km long, running down from the mountains to below 300 m altitude.
History
A local legend says the glacier formed from the frozen tears of Hine Hukatere. It advanced again in the early 1980s, then from 2008 it retreated rapidly. In March 2012 its terminal face collapsed.
- About 150,000 years agoThe ice is large enough to enclose Aoraki/Mount Cook.
- 10,000-15,000 years agoThe glacier probably reaches the sea. It has shrunk since the last ice age.
- 1859The first European description, probably of this glacier, appears in the ship Mary Louisa's logbook.
- 1865Julius von Haast names it after Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.
- Early 18th centuryThe glacier peaks in its advance during the Little Ice Age.
Show all
- Late 19th century to early 1980sIt retreats about 3 km up the valley.
- 2008It stops advancing and begins a rapid retreat.
- March 2012The terminal face collapses.
How to get there
- CarFrom State Highway 6, take the road from the main road into the glacier valley to the car park.
- CarThe village of Franz Josef is 5 km from the glacier on State Highway 6.
Accessibility
- Parking A car park at the end of the valley road, where several short walks start.
Shorts
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Thelma Peak view 3, Franz Josef glacier, Westland Tai Poutini Nationa…Hitch Hiker
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Franz Josef glacier terminus view from top of Goatpath, Westland Tai …Hitch Hiker
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Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk - dangerous partLia Working Holiday
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Wonders of the South Island: Exploring the Captivating Views from Wan…VedikkettuCoupleLife
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Loving The Views Of The Franz Josef GlacierKGAdventurers
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The Franz Josef Glacier - southern alps nzOur Journey around New Zealand
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Franz Josef Glacier Viewpoint | Westland Tai Poutini National Park | …Live Free - Travel Hard
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Franz Josef / Fox Glacier | South Island Road Trip, NZChels Badger
Sources: Franz Josef Glacier - Wikipedia · Franz-Josef-Gletscher - Wikipedia · Glacier Franz Josef/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere … · checked 25 Oct 2026
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
How long does a visit to Franz Josef Glacier take?
A guided walk on the ice, after a helicopter drop, lasts about 1 to 2 hours. The Alex Knob day walk, which overlooks the glacier, takes 8 hours.
What are the opening hours of Franz Josef Glacier?
The Franz Josef Glacier area is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
How do I get to Franz Josef Glacier from the village?
The village of Franz Josef is 5 km from the glacier on State Highway 6. A road runs from the highway into the glacier valley to a car park, where several short walks start.
Do I need my own ice axe and crampons for a Franz Josef Glacier walk?
Glacier walks need an ice axe and crampons. Tour operators usually supply this gear.
Do I need a permit to walk on Franz Josef Glacier?
Since 2012, walking on the glacier has needed a helicopter overflight permit to reach the unstable tongue.
Can I walk on Franz Josef Glacier without a guide?
Yes. Walks to the glacier and onto it are possible both with a guide and without one.
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