Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier is a dramatic river of ice that flows from the Southern Alps down into temperate rainforest, a rare and awe-inspiring sight. This 13-kilometre-long glacier is one of the most accessible in the world, allowing you to walk right up to its terminal face or take a helicopter flight onto its vast, crevassed expanse. The surrounding West Coast wilderness is raw and untamed, with the small village of Fox Glacier offering a friendly base for adventures.

Highlights & What to See

• Fox Glacier Terminal Face Walk: A short, well-maintained track leads to the glacier's snout, where you can witness the blue ice and feel the chill from the ice face. It's an easy walk suitable for most fitness levels.
• Heli-Hike Tours: For an unforgettable experience, take a helicopter onto the glacier and then hike with a guide across its surreal ice formations, crevasses, and ice caves.
• Lake Matheson: A short drive away, this mirror-still lake offers iconic reflections of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, especially at sunrise or sunset. The easy walking track around the lake is a must-do.
• Gillespies Beach: A wild, windswept beach with a historic gold-mining settlement and a seal colony. The drive through dense rainforest is an adventure in itself.
• Franz Josef Glacier: Just 23 km north, this sibling glacier is equally impressive and offers similar activities, including heli-hikes and valley walks.

Suggested Time to Spend

Spend at least two nights in Fox Glacier village to fully experience the glacier and surrounding attractions. One day is enough for a heli-hike and the terminal face walk, while a second day allows for a Lake Matheson loop walk and a drive out to Gillespies Beach. If you're short on time, a single full day can cover a heli-hike and a quick visit to Lake Matheson, but you'll miss the slower pace of the area.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Franz Josef Glacier: Just 20 minutes' drive north, this glacier offers its own valley walks and heli-hikes, plus the Terrace Hot Pools for a post-hike soak.
• Haast Pass & Mount Aspiring National Park: A scenic 90-minute drive south leads to the start of the Haast Pass highway, with stunning waterfalls, blue pools, and hiking trails in the national park.
• Okarito: A tiny coastal settlement 30 minutes north, known for its lagoon kayaking, white heron colony, and peaceful beach walks.
• Hokitika: A two-hour drive north, this historic town is famous for its pounamu (greenstone) carving, quirky driftwood sculpture on the beach, and the Hokitika Gorge's turquoise waters.

Please check official sources for current details.