Things to do in  Franz Josef & Fox Glacier

One of New Zealand’s most photographed natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Franz Josef Glacier serves up a dazzling landscape of snow-smothered peaks, rocky gorges, and icy waterfalls, feeding into the Waiho River that's ripe for exploration.

One of the largest kiwi hatching facilities in the South Island, the West Coast Wildlife Centre is a must-do for visitors of all ages. Go to learn all about New Zealand’s native birds and other animals. You’ll also have the chance to see some kiwis, rarely encountered in the wild, and tuataras, an ancient New Zealand lizard species.

Set in the heart of Glacier Country and backed by the Southern Alps, the Fox Glacier is not only one of New Zealand’s most impressive glaciers, it’s also one of the most accessible in the world—you can even catch a glimpse of the glacier from the roadside. Fed by high alpine snowfall, the Fox Glacier is also unique for its fast-moving ice flows, which means you’ll never hike the same glacier twice.

Westland Tai Poutini National Park’s Fox Glacier can be tricky to catch sight of from ground level. One way of getting a good view is from the Fox Glacier South Side Walkway/Cycleway, an easy 2-hour walk or 1-hour mountain bike ride. It follows the south bank of the Fox River, which flows from the glacier, through forest.

The reflection of New Zealand’s two tallest mountains, Aoraki/Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman, on the glassy surface of Lake Matheson is one of the South Island’s most famous postcard images. To see these views, you’ll need to complete the 2.7-mile (4.4-kilometer) Lake Matheson Walk, an easy, accessible loop through beautiful native forest.