New Zealand is filled with the most incredible scenery. One of my favorite excursions in New Zealand was exploring Franz Josef Glacier with my family! Our excursion with Franz Josef Glacier Guides included a helicopter ride, glacier trek, and entry to hot pools. The tour lasts approximately four hours and is an amazing way to admire the beauty of the glacier!
Our morning started out with a helicopter ride to the top of the Glacier! The helicopter ride offered the most stunningview of Franz Josef! It was a quick ride to the top and a really cool experience.
Once you land on top the glacier, your guide will give you a quick briefing of what to expect as well as what to watch out for on the ice. Throughout the hike we learned the glacier is still moving which is so crazy! This was equally interesting and freaky to hear; as we were on our trek there were large blocks of the glacier that would break off the top and fall down the ice. There is no way to predict where the ice will break and crevasses will form.
The hike is moderately difficult as the guides are very helpful! Our group was small which allowed our guide to be hands on. If you are the first group on the ice in the morning, oftentimes, your guide will be forming the path throughout the trek. If there is a steep area, your guide will carve out steps to make the area easier. As long as you follow your guide, you will have nothing to worry about!
The tour ends with a quick helicopter ride back into town! From there, you are able to enter the hot pools at your leisure.
WHAT TO BRING
Be sure to pack layers! It will be cold in the beginning of the tour, however, you will warm up as the glacier hike begins. It was sunny the day of our excursion which made it much less chilly.
Luckily, you are able to borrow jackets, snow pants, boots, crampons and more from Franz Josef Glacier Guides. They will also provide you with a fanny pack that is large enough for most items you would bring on the hike. I started getting warm once we started our hike and ended up taking my jacket off. It easily fit into the fanny pack so don’t worry about bringing a bag or backpack!
Be sure to pack your camera as you will see some unbelievable scenery! If you are looking for another great tour on the South Island be sure to check out Milford Sound!
Safe Travels,
Sarah :)
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Great article! I am headed to New Zealand next month and will be sure to add this to my To Do List. Thanks!!
Thanks, Thomas! It is a very cool trip to take while in New Zealand!
Can’t wait to hear about the rest of your New Zealand trip. I plan on traveling there in the fall with my family. Any suggestions on things to do in Queenstown?
Thank you, Isaac! New Zealand is such an incredible country with so much to do! I am headed back to Queenstown this month so I will have an article on Queenstown shortly! My favorite excursion I went on the last time I was in Queenstown was the Dart River Jet Safari. (here is the link: https://www.dartriver.co.nz/)
Love this article- thank you for the info! Do you think a 12 year old would struggle with the glacier trek?
Thanks, Mina! Children above the age of 8 are able to do the glacier trek. With that being said, if the child is active, I think they would be fine on the hike. The guides are extremely helpful and experienced!
I really want to do this! We are traveling with my mother who is very independent but not adventurous. Are their shops & restaurants she could enjoy while the rest of us go to the glacier?