Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier village is in "Glacier Country" on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Tucked discreetly into the rainforest-clad foothills of the Southern Alps, it has a stunning outlook across surrounding farms and offers breathtaking views of New Zealand’s two highest peaks, Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. The tiny township was founded from a gold strike which soon petered out, and it now mostly serves as a base for visitors to its large icy namesake. There's a quiet, intimate village atmosphere compared to the other glacier town, Franz Josef.
- See
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- Do
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- Eat
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- Buy
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10 places match
- Do
Chalet Lookout Walk
1 hour 15 minute round-trip with a stream crossing to find a beautiful lookout point over the glacier.
- Do
Copland Track - Welcome Flat
6 to 8-hr tramp one way to the Welcome Flat hot pools. Transport available with Intercity.
- Do
Fox & Franz Josef Heliservices
Flights last for 20-40 minutes, from a simple fly-around and glacier landings, to an extended flight for a closer look at Aoraki/Mt Cook, Mt Tasman and a loop towards Franz Josef Glacier.
$195-375
- Do
Fox Glacier Guiding
The most experienced New Zealand glacier guiding company, offering guided trips onto the glacier. There's the Fox Trot: half-day walk, Flying Fox: heli-hike, Nimble Fox: all-day walk, Fox Trail: Terminal Face walk, Fox It Up: ice-climbing adventure, Chancellor Dome day and overnight heli-treks. The heli-hikes have limited spaces, so booking beforehand could guarantee a spot.
$69-700
- Do
Minnehaha Walk
A 20-min round trip through the rainforest on the outskirts of town. Take a torch at night to see glow-worms in the tree trunks and along the banks of the stream.
- Do
Moraine Walk
Tramp over moraine surface into native bush for a 40-min round trip.
- Do
Mount Fox Track
8-hr round trip on a steep marked route through to alpine grasslands that afford views of the mountains, glacier, and the coastline.
- Do
Swing Bridge Walk
River Walk
Walk down to the valley before crossing a historic swing bridge that spans Fox River. 40 min return.
- Do
Unguided walk
It's roughly a 1- to 2-hour round-trip trek to the glacier. The track can be cumbersome in places, requiring balance to scramble down slick rocks and across small streams, but still easy enough for inexperienced trampers. Unlike Franz Josef, the glacier will not be in sight for some parts of the walk, but you can get much closer to it. Do not proceed past the barriers at the terminal face of the glacier, as the area is extremely dangerous. Two tourists were killed by falling ice after they crossed the barriers in 2009. If you want to step onto the ice, take a guided walk. As of Apr 2019, the Fox Glacier access road (north road of Fox River) is closed due to landslide. Glacier View Road (south road of Fox River) is also closed to vehicles but you can walk on the road.
Free
- Do Not mapped
Skydive Fox Glacier
Take a tandem jump. This is probably the best place in New Zealand to skydive thanks to its amazing scenery.
$225-500 depending on height and options
9 of 10 places have map locations.