Franz Josef Glacier

We only completed the bush walk that lasts maybe 20 minutes in each direction with a viewing platform. The glacier has obviously been affected over the many years with earthquakes and climate change etc. Even if you opt not to take a helicopter tour up into the glacier directly, this is an amazing experience and one of a kind. Yes, you can only go up to a certain point as the rest of the track is closed but it is what it is. This spot, Lake Matheson and Fox Glacier are three iconic points in the West Coast Region and for good reason.

This is a very nice walk through the Bush and a stark eye opener for global warming. Go see it before it all goes back. Needs about 1.5hours just to make sure you enjoy the views. There are a few other walks around that looked amazing but I couldn't get to amy of them. Easy access by car to the start of the walk and a few other stops and walks around on the way too.

Lovely walk from the car park to the viewing point. Very scenic, we did it in a light drizzle, wearing jeans, sneakers, and a jacket, under an umbrella. It is well with. The debris field / river bed is easy to walk on.

The walk to the viewing point at Franz Josef is quite good. It's a little up and down but it's not too hard if you're sure on your feet and reasonably mobile and fit. While you're still quite a way from the glaciers edge at the main viewing point it's worth the effort in my view. There's some good information panels along the way and you get a sense of how far the glacier has retreated in the last 100 and 10 (or so) years. The natural beauty and sheer size of the area it used to fill is mind boggling in itself. There are numerous waterfalls along the way as well if the weather has been right for them.

Excellent walk. A bit more demanding then Fox Glacier however well worth it as you get pretty close up to Franz Josef (about 1 km) which is quite close considering all the loose rocks surrounding the area. A river bed walk and a few river crossings by foot are on the agenda. Not too difficult even for the untrained. One thing though - use proper shoes as the uneven terrain can cause injuries if you use flip flops or similar. Experienced Even a bit of wildlife on the way. Awesome.

I enjoyed the journey and environment but not the crowds. Quite a contrast from my last visit over 20 years ago, when we could touch it without paying a fee. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could enjoy this place without all the human noise. Best tip: go before 0800hrs or after 1800hrs to avoid the incessant chopper noise walloping down the glacier valley. And perhaps all the bus loads of noisy tourists attending for their token photo opportunity. Lifesaving tip: Follow department of conservation advice. In October 2018, it was an easier gradient to walk than Fox Glacier.

The track takes a good while but you will still be far away from it. You don't need to get to the end of the trail to see it. You can see it from the car park, from Sentinel Rock (around 30-40 minutes return trip up another track), at the end of the Forest Walk (45 minutes return) or from the very end of the track (2 hours return). The signs say it takes a little less to get there but I would say it's a bit optimistic. Especially considering you will stop for the views or rest a little and take photos. If it's sunny, bring sunscreen and if it's rainy, a raincoat since there won't be places to hide. The only advantage of doing the full track is that you will see some waterfalls on the way but they are soon after you finish the Forest Walk. It's still a nice track but if you have been in Iceland or Switzerland, very close to glaciers, this won't be especially impressive.

We hiked in very rainy weather which led to these views, still beautiful but just couldn't see much at all. We walked out to Peters Pool also which was a little underwhelming really but its again because of the weather. Still worth the hike though.

Thank you to NZ for making so many natural wonders free to access and visit! We were excited to see the glaciers, and did the short hike to a viewpoint for Franz Josef Glacier. Sadly, the glacier has receded quite a bit, and the viewing spot doesn't get you anywhere near it so it's a bit anticlimactic. The clouds covered the view about an hour later. If you're really excited about glaciers in NZ and aren't going to the Mt. Cook area, I'd recommend doing a helicopter ride and glacier tour to get up close - otherwise you may feel it's a bit average from the viewpoint.

The walk to the viewing point for the glacier is very comfortable and scenic. There is ample space within the viewing area for people to view the glacier in the distance. There are nice facilities in the parking lot and informative signs.

Magnificent glacier. First I looked at the glacier by hiking the Alex Knob track. Probably from the top and Christmas lookout has the best view for the entire glacier. Walking near the glacier you can get more idea of moraine and lower part of glacier. Anyway it is cool.

Hiked up to this glacier in the middle of February. We got to the area around 10am and finished around noon. You could definitely finish in less time; we stopped to take a lot of photos. The area is fairly level throughout but with no benches along the path. The trail is mostly loose gravel so I would definitely recommend hiking shoes. Bring a raincoat! I wouldn't say this hike is stroller friendly but it's definitely suitable for young kids. You don't need walking sticks unless you have trouble walking normally. - Definitely start before noon! There had to be quadruple the amount of people entering the park than leaving the park around this time. When we left around noon the parking lot was nearly full. The parking lot was massive. - Free entry - There are 3 public restrooms at the trailhead. Pretty typical for the NZ public parks, no soap available so bring your hand sanitizer! - No drone zone (due to helicopters). You will be fined $5,000 if caught with a drone. - Follow the IG account poutiniranger for details of their talks and free guided nature walks

If you take the time to drove to the west coast of the South Island, the glaciers are a must-see. Getting to a place where you can see a glacier is usually not easy. Most are in remote, inaccessible places in the arctic or in mountains. But here, there are not just one but two glaciers close to each other that are easily accessible. I've visited both Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Of the two, I would say Franz Joseph is the more accessible. The trail has a lot of flat ground, so not as much climbing compared to Fox, which I felt was one long incline. When you get to the end, the glacier is right in front of you. Sadly, it's not as close as it once was, and signs along the way tell you how far the glacier stretched at different points in time. Its shocking how much it has receded in just the past 10 years. But it's still good and worth seeing. Is the glacier itself better than Fox? I can't say; I visited the two 5 years apart. But if Fox is melting as much as Franz Joseph, then FJ may be a better bet. Hiking to FJ May be a bit safer than hiking to Fox. Also there's waterfalls along the trail that I don't remember seeing at Fox. Regardless of your preference, make sure you check out one of these two glaciers while you are in the area. They are fantastic, and you might not be able to see them for much longer.

A big glacier within a nice panoramic of mountains. The hike to the front if the glaciers takes about 45 one way and is an easy till moderate hike. NO SNEAKERS recommended. Most of the times it is helpful to carry a rain coat or umbrella with you as weather changes really quickly. During my hike I had three times rain and 4 times sun :-) Please ensure you're in a good health conditions to make the way as there is only one bench at the beginning of the track. A shuttle service operated every two hours from the village to the car park for 12,50 NZD return.