explore the Scenic Franz Josef Glacier
Your Real West Coast Travel and Drive Guide

Franz Josef Glacier offers visitors the opportunity to experience a dynamic glacial environment, in a temperate zone, within easy driving and walking distance from the main highway.

" ...The Franz Josef Glacier..."

The terminal face of the glacier is less than 300 metres above sea level and is just one of three to be this close to the coastline. Although in the last ice age the glacier extended well beyond the coastline.

In 1865, Sentinel Rock had just emerged from beneath the retreating Franz Josef Glacier ice when the valley was first visited by Sir Julius Von Haast. Until 1909 ice pressed against Harper Rock just in front of Sentinel Rock.

Where the glacier has dumped rubble over the bedrock, plant succession is rapid from low shrubs of tree daisy to young rata and kamahi forest which emerge after 100 years. Where bedrock is bare, succession is much slower. Lichens and mosses cover the rocks and shrubs begin growing in crevices

 Do Not venture on to the Glacier unless you are with a Guide. Franz Josef is a living, moving river of ice and can be dangerous.

Franz or Fox? Which to visit?
It is commonly assumed that seeing one is seeing both of the Glaciers this is a fallacy.

Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are rivers of Ice tumbling from the Southern Alps to approximately 250 metres above sea level, at that point all similarity ends.

The experience of Fox is not Franz, they are unique in their ease of access and extending to such a low level from the sea, but seeing one is not seeing both. If you can make the time do visit both, we are sure you will be pleased you did.

Welcome to the “real” West Coast ... enjoy your stay.