Franz Josef Glacier + Glacier Walk [February 26 - 29]

So we traveled onwards to Franz Josef, a town that solely exists because of the glacier. There are no normal houses, only tourist attractions, accomodation and restaurants/pubs. We found a nice hostel and I booked a half day hike on the glacier. It was absolutely magical!

The Franz Josef or Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere (in Maori) is a 12 km long glacier located in Westland National Park on the West Coast of the South Island. It is unique in the fact that it descends from the Southern Alps to just 240 metres above sea level amidst the greenery and lushness of a temperate rainforest. The area surrounding the two glaciers (Fox and Franz Josef) is designated a World Heritage Site. The river emerging from the glacier terminal of Franz Josef is known as the Waiho.


The glacier, viewed from the valley.


Me on the glacier. Gotta love the sunglasses, eh? ;)


The valley the glacier carved out and the Waiho river. It was still sunny. Later on it started to cool down.

On the glacier.

Me on the glacier. It was coldbrrr!

The higher part of the glacier.

People are tiny on the grand glacier.

The ice cave from which the river flows.

Some of the waterfalls in the valley.

Next: Further up the West Coast!