
Everything is overpriced and the ‘biggest’ attraction is happy hour at the local bar. The town is lovely, however it is a so called ‘tourist trap’. The glacier is located just a few km from the heart of Franz Josef township which offers a range of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. ↬ Read : Hike Roy’s Peak in Wanaka – New Zealandįranz Josef Glacier is one of the steepest and biggest glaciers in New Zealand. After this point is a 1.5 H drive with no views until the Franz Josef Glacier township. The lovely wooden path along the beach and into the rainforest at Ship Creek Beach is worth an hour long stop. There are two beautiful stops at the beginning of the road, just past Haast : Ship Creek Beach and Knights Point Lookout. ↬ Read : Cruise Milford Sound – Guide to the Natural World Wonder & Surroundings Viewpoints In those circumstances, there is no possibility to enter or leave Westland Tai Poutini National Park! This means that you need to check actively the weather forecasts before going to the west coast of South New Zealand. Due to heavy rain, it happens that both of those bridges get flooded (or damaged) and the way in or out is blocked. This highway in connected on both sides by bridges. Unfortunately, there is no views along the Highway 6, the only road connecting Haast and Hokitika. That’s why, we were slightly surprised to see the views changing so much as we approached the West coast. After a week of road trip around the South Island, we were amazed by the natural beauty that we had seen so far. It is renowned for dramatic glaciers, dense rainforest, coastal lagoons, ice-blue rivers and beautiful lakes.

This park is located on the West Coast of South Island. This Franz Josef Glacier review will help you decide if you should extend your campervan roadtrip to the west coast of South New Zealand. However, the reality was slightly disappointing. We both were excited to see the glacier for the first time. Cascading from the Mount Tasmin and Cook, both glaciers are highly visited by tourists during their road trip itinerary around South Island. The park stretches from the top of the Southern Alps in the east to the Tasman Sea in the west, covering over 1270 km2. Those neighbouring ice formations are located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. You'll have earned it at that point and you'll be more than ready to warm up some too.Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier are the two largest glaciers in New Zealand.

If you like to hike and are seeking some time to yourself, those other trails are often empty.
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There are quite a few free hiking trails in and around Franz Josef.Arrive a couple of hours before sunset to start your walk and you just might be surprised at how few people are actually there. Conversely, if you're staying in Franz Josef for two days, it is possible to find the trail quite empty later in the day.Once those flights commence for the day, they usually occur about one per minute, which can be a bit disruptive for anyone hoping for some solitude on the trail. If you're on the trail by 7 a.m., you'll get out ahead of the larger crowds and before the helicopter flights begin. For a quieter, less crowded, experience, start your hike early in the day.Sure, you won't actually stand on the glacier itself, but you'll still get to enjoy its epic setting. While taking a helicopter out to the glacier is quite the adventure, driving to the parking lot and hiking yourself can save a considerable amount of money.
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Knowing how to maneuver in those traction devices ahead of time may eliminate some awkwardness and allow you to enjoy yourself more. That said, there are times when conditions can be a bit more challenging and wearing crampons may be necessary.

Hiking on the glacier is generally as safe and easy as hiking on any snow-covered trail.
