Fox Glacier Nature Tour
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Franz Josef & Fox Glacier, New Zealand
- 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Guided hike goes beyond crowded public areas
- Warm up on the trail with an included afternoon tea
- Wet-weather clothing, umbrellas, hiking poles, and baby carriers provided
- Receive personalized attention on a small-group tour
What's Included
- Wet weather gear
- Umbrellas
- Baby Backpack/carrier
- Walking poles
- Lunch
- Water
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.1:30 pm
Itinerary
1
Fox Glacier South Side Walk
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Riley_H
We really enjoyed our walk with our guide Cliff! He was entertaining and very knowledgeable about the area’s wildlife and local plants as well as New Zealand and the region. The walk was not difficult and our guide stopped regularly to allow for photos and questions so it felt well paced. We drank a nice cup of hot chocolate at the top of the hike while enjoying the beautiful view of the glacier. It can get wet so definitely bring waterproof clothes. The guide did have umbrellas if you don’t have one. Definitely recommend!
Reviews
4.8
based on 96 reviews
Sue_B, Apr 2026
A lovely walk with plants etc being pointed out that we would have missed. Great view of the glacier
John_H, Apr 2026
It would be very simple to drive to fix glacier and walk the main path to see the glacier and the site of the avalanche. But it is a much better experience to do it with a guide (in fact a masters botany student) and learn about the history of the glacier and its surrounding countryside. The off the main track experience while more demanding was special and we learnt so much about the local flora and fauna. A special experience that we will not forget.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Kia ora,
Thanks so much for your kind words! 😊 We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed the experience and learned so much along the way. We will be sure to let Louis know!
Great to hear you appreciated getting off the main track too — that’s something the guide includes when the group is a good fit, and it sounds like it added something special to your day.
Hope we can welcome you back again sometime!
Cheers,
The GVET team
Susan_N, Mar 2026
Fantastic experience! First time in a helicopter and so glad we did it. All staff from the office to the pilot, Aaron were personable and professional.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi there Susan
Thanks for your review - however, we don't have a helicopter company and wondering if you are able to edit or take down this review so as to not confuse our future clients please?
We run small group guided nature tours in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier.
thanks!
bbdisselkoen, Mar 2026
My husband and I had a fantastic experience on this tour. Our guide was a botanist grad student who told us about the glacier, the 2019 landslide, rocks, plants and even some bugs. We were privileged to go on a day where we had a full view of the glacier. Because we were a small group we were able to do some exploring on the rocks in the landslide area. I highly recommend this tour. It is a memorable experience, not just a hike to see the glacier.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia ora,
Thanks so much for the recommendation. I know Louis had a great time too! And glad to hear you got to enjoy some of the off track bits! We look forward to seeing you again if you're ever in our neck of the woods.
Cheers, the GVET team
Edry_G, Feb 2026
It goes rain or shine and our guide Bella was a trooper to take us in a down pour the entire time! Just know that you can’t get near the glacier.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your review!
We’re so glad to hear you had a great time despite the downpour! Bella is definitely a trooper, and while most people might be put off by the rain, it’s awesome that it’s a totally different atmosphere that you can’t get on a dry day, and we’re glad you were able to experience it! As for the glacier, you’re right — access is restricted for safety but the surrounding landscape is still amazing to explore.
Cheers, the GVET team!
Rhada_T, Jan 2026
We had a wonderful time on this tour. Bella was very friendly and knowledgeable, sharing great insights along the way.
The landscapes were stunning, the walks were beautiful and well planned, and everything was perfectly organised. Tea and cookies was also provided and having them in front of Fox Glacier in the middle of nature was next level!
Highly recommend this tour for a relaxing day with amazing scenery and a great guide!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Rhada! Thankyou so much for your lovely review, we will be sure to pass the message along to Bella! We are glad you had such a good time, that is what we strive for at Glacier Valley Eco Tours!
Many thanks,
The GVET team!
Riley_H, Oct 2025
We really enjoyed our walk with our guide Cliff! He was entertaining and very knowledgeable about the area’s wildlife and local plants as well as New Zealand and the region. The walk was not difficult and our guide stopped regularly to allow for photos and questions so it felt well paced. We drank a nice cup of hot chocolate at the top of the hike while enjoying the beautiful view of the glacier. It can get wet so definitely bring waterproof clothes. The guide did have umbrellas if you don’t have one. Definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks so much for your great review of our company, much appreciated!
We hope you enjoyed the rest of your travels in our beautiful Tai Poutini West Coast Aotearoa New Zealand,
Thanks
Tash
Lisa_H, Mar 2025
We loved this walk! Much further than you think but the guide was fantastic and knowledgeable and you get a lot of information about the glacier and how things were in the past.
Highly recommend
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Great thanks for the review and so glad you enjoyed our Fox Glacier Nature Tour.
richard_l, Mar 2025
Easy walking terrain. Great view of the glacier. Good learning experience of the history of the creation of the glacier and the trees and plants.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thanks for your review :)
Tash
MARY_T, Feb 2025
Beautiful walk…snacks for trip were non existent….only chocolate chip cookies! Crackers and cheese would be nice! No water offered! Hot chocolate on a hot day? Disappointed ! Thought we’d get closer to the glacier!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Kia ora Mary
Thanks for your review :) We ask all our guests to bring their own water along, I'm sorry you didn't get the information as I sent all the details in an email prior to your tour. Our guides have to carry everything for 10 people plus all our safety equipment so we physically can't carry water as well, but we do have hot water or you can fill up water in your mug from the glacier run river. We sometimes take cold iced herb tea on a hot day, depends on the day and the guide.
We explain that we can't get close to either glacier at the moment due to safety issues, this particular area in Fox Glacier was NZ's most active landslide only a few years ago.
Thanks we hope you enjoyed the remainder of your travels in our beautiful Glacier Country Aotearoa NZ :)
Diana_B, Jan 2025
Good tour with excellent guide Cliff. Knowledgeable and really looked after his group. Enjoyed the view of the Fox glacier.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thanks Diana for your review :)
We hope you enjoyed the rest of your travels in our beautiful Glacier Country Aotearoa NZ
Tash
Maureen_T, Dec 2024
We had a great tour with an excellent guide. Once in a lifetime opportunity to see something rare and special.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thanks so much for your excellent review of our little family company, much appreciated :)
Tash
Barton_A, Dec 2024
Amazing guide, encouraged us through more difficult parts of the hike and stream crossing. Knowledgeable about the geology and botany. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thanks for your great review much appreciated!
Tash
Lou_A, Dec 2024
Beautiful walk through rainforest up to a view of the Fox glacier. Our guide was very informative and helpful.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
thanks for your review!!!!
Tash
Harold_G, Dec 2024
Our guide, Tyler, was very knowledgeable, friendly and a wealth of interesting facts. It's an easy hike and we were able to walk through the entire park.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thanks so much for your review! we hope you enjoyed the rest of your travels in Aotearoa NZ :)
vy_l, Dec 2024
The tour guide, Jack is friendly and knowledgeable. I learnt a lot on how glacier works. And the trek is casual, just right for me. Most of all, get to see glacier!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
awesome glad you enjoyed the tour with our guide, thanks for your great review :)
Douglas_C, Apr 2024
Cliff, our guide did an amazing job! Due to the glacier receding over the past 15-years and the old access road being destroyed in a 2019 storm, you can't get as close to the glacier as was once possible without flying to it. However, Cliff brought our small group on some smaller trails, and at times on no trails at all, to some amazing view points. He provided great information, and we even discovered on our break, that is oversized pack contained, hot water for tea, coffee and even snacks for all of us.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thanks for your great review~
Thanks
Tash
Laura_G, Mar 2024
Jerome was an excellent tour guide. We really enjoyed our day wandering through the beautiful trails and even through the rock bed. We loved seeing Fox glacier and Jerome made it a very special day.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thanks for your great review!
Tash
Mira_G, Feb 2024
Jerome was a wonderful guide and made the hike informative and enjoyable. We were lucky enough to be taken on a ‘secret’ route off the main track. Gorgeous scenery. Sadly the glacier is receding and the view of it is from afar but still worth the effort.
Alex_E, Jan 2024
Beautiful relaxing 7 km walk, not steep and in a magic rainforest. You may not see a lot if glacier, only from distance- but see a lot of other beautiful things.
Tayna is a wonderful guide, strongly recommend
Joan_S, Jan 2024
This humble sounding hike was absolutely spectacular. Started out on a fairy-tale pretty short trail to a glacier viewing point, then literally continues over the river and through the woods to another amazing viewpoint, where our guide Cliff made tea and coffee and told us more about the glacier and about glaciers in general. Next, down to the riverbed to see and hold clear and oxygenated glacier ice, then back through another type of forest over many short river crossings on stone paths or pog bridges that Cliff set up for us. He stood ankle deep in the water to provide hand holding support to make sure no one's feet got too wet. Then up a short steep beautiful hidden trail, whose rock steps were made literally by amazing Cliff and some of his musclebound friends. All the while with interesting info about the plants, geology, regional history, and glaciers provided by someone who really loves this area .
Debbie_W, Dec 2023
Detour off main track . Very knowledgeable tour guide. First sight of Fox in the mist . Learned so much about the landscape and flora of the area
Ingrid_Z, Nov 2023
Picked up on time, good response to written questions. Nice walk with a good guide. Especially the off track part through the (dry) river was enjoyable.
Donald_D, Oct 2023
Great guide Sophie, knowledgeable about the area and geological features. Very pretty area. Poured rain for the entire tour but company loaned us waterproof jackets and over pants, hiking boots and large umbrellas. Also provided afternoon tea halfway through the walk.
Keira_L, Oct 2023
My friend and I had a really positive experience yesterday with our guide Sophie. The tour exceeded our expectations and we were very impressed with Sophie’s knowledge and attention to detail. Despite the rain and the fog preventing us from seeing the fox glacier itself, we had a really great time. It was a nice surprise to get a hot drink and biccy at the top of the walk which was a fantastic extra.
Gillian_E, Sep 2023
Kath was very informative we had a lovely time. Seeing the glacier was a highlight plus the cup of tea. Highly recommended.
Amanda_P, Jul 2023
Kath was an engaging and informative guide, pointing out a heap of detail about the local flora in an interesting way that made us pause and truly appreciate the landscape and how it changed and evolved as the walk progressed up the tracks. So much more depth and appreciation for the awesome place as a result.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Amazing thankyou for your great review of our company :) We hope you enjoyed the rest of your traveling just as much in our beautiful Aotearoa New Zealand
Tracy_D, Jul 2023
The knowledge of the guide was amazing. We really enjoyed the walk, getting to know about the surroundings and history.
Rainer_K, Jul 2023
We had a very knowledgable guide who made the walk very interesting. The small picnic to enjoy the view was amazing.
Karen_S, Mar 2023
We loved the enthusiasm, knowledge and detail that Kath (sp?) lead the hike with! Very enjoyable! We even had a tea/coffee and a biscuit at the top!
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Awesome, thanks for your great review, we hope you enjoyed the rest of your travels in Aotearoa just as much :)
Tash
From $66.40
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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