Top Franz Josef & Fox Glacier Half-day Tours

Enjoy the amazing natural scenery around the magnificent Franz Josef Glacier with this nature-focused tour. Starting out in the town of Franz Josef, drive to the glacier car park and then head off into the forest. Learn about the local environment, as your guide provides lots of information about glaciology, geology, geomorphology, flora & fauna and more.

Hike the Fox Glacier Valley on a guided small-group walking tour that explores glaciology, geology, local plants, and animals. Walking alongside a local guide is a great way to learn the natural history of Fox Glacier and the surrounding mountains. You’ll gain a greater understanding of the area than you would by sticking to the paved roads.

Explore the serene waters of Lake Mapourika on this kayak adventure from Franz Josef town. Paddle with your guide out onto Lake Mapourika, avoiding the risk of getting lost and learning about the landscape and geology as you go. Enjoy uninterrupted views and marvel at the reflective views of the Southern Alps. Head into a kiwi sanctuary in a protected estuary and explore some of the country’s oldest untouched rainforest.t.

Add a bit of mystery to your day when you opt for the pilot’s choice glacier tour. Fly deep into the Southern Alps and over Franz Josef Glacier, admiring views that you can’t get from the ground. Then, depending on the day’s conditions and your pilot’s judgment, fly over Fox Glacier or Tasman Glacier, and into the Southern Alps for a snow landing and special photo opportunity.

The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers are New Zealand’s most accessible glaciers, and many visitors find it hard to choose between them. This helicopter tour takes in both with a thrilling flight over snowy peaks and frozen waterfalls, and an unforgettable snow landing overlooking one of the glaciers. You’ll enjoy views of the mountainous landscape that you can’t get any other way.

Appreciate the majesty and scale of Franz Josef and Fox glaciers from the air during a 30-minute helicopter flight and snow landing. Enjoy aerial views over both glaciers from your prime position in the sky, and hear live commentary from the pilot before landing atop one of the glaciers. Then hop out to get a better view of one of New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes.

Take in the truly magnificent views of Franz Josef Glacier and surrounds with this helicopter flight. See lush rainforest, the amazing glacier, and the impressive Southern Alps mountain range. Part of this flight time is an alpine landing (approximately 10 minutes) where you get to land on top of a peak and pause to take in the dramatic scenery.

Travel north along the wild West Coast from Franz Josef to Greymouth on this small group, fully guided one-way tour. Discover historic towns, pristine lakes, and striking coastal scenery as you journey through one of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscapes. With passionate local guides, comfortable transport, and plenty of photo stops, this is more than a transfer - it’s an unforgettable West Coast experience.

Visit both the Franz Josef Glacier and the Fox Glacier on a single tour on this flight tour that includes a snow landing. Depart from either Franz Josef or Fox villages, to suit your plans. Get up close to the blue ice of these mammoth glaciers and snap unbelievable aerial and ground-level photos. Learn about the glaciology and environment of the area through your pilot's guided commentary.

Explore beyond the glacier at Franz Josef with a scenic cruise on Lake Mapourika. See the snow-capped mountains reflected in the lake on a calm, clear day, as you cruise across the lake to a hidden nature trail through the ancient, untouched rainforest. Visit a kiwi sanctuary and look out for other birds along the way.

Take in views of Mt. Cook (Aoraki) and the Southern Alps from a vantage point that most travelers miss on this small-group helicopter tour. Fly above the snow-capped peaks, taking in Fox Glacier, the Franz Josef Glacier, and much more before landing for a quick opportunity to explore the pristine wilderness on foot.

Enjoy views of Jurassic-era rainforests, glaciers, and snow-capped mountains reflected on calm Lake Mapourika on this small-group boat cruise on the lake. Visit a kiwi conservation area and learn more about New Zealand’s native bird. You’ll cruise for around two hours so bring some snacks or a bottle of wine to drink as you relax and take in the beauty of the West Coast.

There’s more to the West Coast than its two famous glaciers, and this half-day eco-tour gives you the chance to discover one of the area’s hidden gems. Explore the coastal village of Okarito, a 19th-century gold mining town that’s far from the resort village crowds and right on the doorstep of an expansive wetland area. Afterward, enjoy a peaceful hike through native bush to a lookout that offers impressive views of the Southern Alps on one side and the Tasman Sea on the other.

Hike around Lake Matheson while learning more about the area’s ecology on a private nature walk. With a guide in the lead, you can focus on the scenery and on learning about the area's flora, fauna, and unique ecosystem. Admire the reflections of Mt. Tasman and Mt. Cook in the glassy surface of the lake. Evening departures give the best chance of calm conditions for the best reflections.