Franz Josef Glacier is one of the most beautiful natural wonders on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. With its 12 km length, descending from the Southern Alps at less than 300 m above sea level, Franz Josef Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in the country for travelers to see and interact with.
With such close proximity to the glacier, Franz Josef town offers a slew of opportunities to go on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that you won't find anywhere else.
From hiking on the glacier to skydiving over the Southern Alps, here is a complete backpacking guide to Franz Josef, with a list of epic things you can do here and all the other information you need to plan a great trip to Franz Josef Glacier. Without further ado, let's take a look at Franz Josef's itinerary map:
Franz Josef Glacier Things to Do Itinerary Map
Franz Josef Glacier vs Fox Glacier
The question I get asked the most about visiting the glaciers in the South Island is, "Which one should I visit, Franz Josef or Fox Glacier?" This is a question as old as time. Many travelers fear that they might be missing out on certain activities if they decide to visit one of these.
Well, I am here to tell you that you do not have to worry about it. Both Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier have the exact same activities you can do. Do you want to hike? They both have walking trails that you can hike to see the glacier. Do you want to go ice climbing on the glacier? They both have tours running every day.
Virtually, both glaciers are exactly the same when it comes to activities you can participate in. Physically, Fox Glacier is longer, at 20 km in length, whereas Franz Josef Glacier is around 12 km. In the grand scheme of things, you won't see the difference at all unless you are flying up in the sky, looking down.
So, to answer your question "Which one should I visit, Franz Josef or Fox Glacier?" it is up to you. Now that you know that they are virtually the same, you can just pick whichever one you wish to explore.
In fact, you can even visit both from one place if you book this helicopter tour, which ultimately solves all the problems you have in picking one over the other 😉. To book a helicopter tour to see both, you can click the link below:
5 Best Things To Do in Franz Josef
1. Hike the Franz Josef Glacier with Heli Hike Tour
- 📍 Location: Franz Josef Glacier [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: $350 USD
One of the best things to do in Franz Josef, if not the whole of New Zealand, is to hike on the icy blocks of the stunning Franz Josef Glacier, and you can do just that with the Franz Josef Heli Hike Tour.
Due to the forever-retreating glacier caused by Global Warming, Franz Josef Glacier is no longer accessible on foot like it used to be many years ago. The only way you can get up on the glacier now is via helicopter. With the Franz Josef Heli Hike Tour, you will be helicoptered up the glacier, where you will be guided through each section of the glacier on foot.
The Franz Josef Heli Hike Tour will cost you around $350 USD. It is expensive, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I highly recommend you go for it if you are already in Franz Josef.
- Rainforest Retreat Backpackers (Budget)
- 58 On Cron Motel (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (High-End)
- Franz Josef Heli Hiking Guided Tour (3 hours)
- Glacier Explorer - 1 Glacier with Snow Landing - 25min (25 minutes)
- Pilot's Choice - 2 Glaciers with Snow Landing - 35mins (35 minutes) 🏅 Top Pick
Just make sure to keep your expectations in check since the tour will rely heavily on the weather. If visibility is poor or the wind is too strong, they might delay or even cancel the trip entirely, so do not be disappointed.
It is more common than you think. I also had my first flight canceled despite the clear sunny weather, but it was due to the strong wind, so they had to cancel it last minute. I ended up extending my stay, and fortunately, I was able to do it the next day. Nothing tests your patience more than waiting to go on one of these epic flights!
From Franz Josef town, if the weather permits, you will be taken to a helicopter pad, and they will fly you up to the top of the glacier. From the helicopter, you will be able to see the amazing features of the glacier and get a glimpse of just how big Franz Josef Glacier really is.
Once you arrive at the landing site, you will be dropped off, and then safety equipment like crampons, gaiter leg covers, etc. will be given to you to help navigate the glacier safely.
From there, the guide will help instruct you on the dos and don'ts of hiking around glaciers. Stay away from the edge of the crevasse, always hold on to installed ropes, and do not go off-trail.
The Franz Josef heli hike tour will give you approximately 3 hours of on-ice time, which is one of the longest durations offered by these ice hiking tours. Therefore, you will spend around 3 hours hiking around the glacier.
The hike will take you up higher and higher along steep ice blocks, where you will have to haul yourself up using the installed ropes. The further up you climb, the true scale of the glacier will start to become clearer and clearer.
Hiking around on the ice, hauling yourself up the rope, and squeezing yourself through 2 blocks is not easy and requires you to have some level of fitness. After about an hour of hiking, I started to feel a little breathless, to be honest. Thankfully, there were many stops and plenty of photo opportunities to break up the climb.
At one point, you will be met with a decision of whether to squeeze yourself through this extremely narrow passage between 2 massive blocks of ice or to go around it. Of course, I went for the narrow passage, and boy, was it terrifying.
I am certain that it is everyone's greatest fear to be stuck between two blocks of ice that weighed several tons, and that is what I felt when I was stuck in between the ice blocks and couldn't go back. I literally had to bend every part of my body just to slide through the last part of the passage. Thank God for the frictionless ice!
After 3 hours of hiking, you will surely be completely drained and ready for a nap. The helicopter will come and pick you up at the end of the 3-hour hiking session, and you will be taken back to Franz Josef town where you can then continue exploring Franz Josef.
Book the Franz Josef Heli Hike Tour
Where to Stay in Franz Josef Glacier?
2. Hike the Franz Josef Glacier Walk for Free
- 📍 Location: Franz Josef Glacier [Map Link]
If you are looking to see Franz Josef Glacier from the ground for free, you can also go on a 1.5-hour hike along the Franz Josef Glacier Walk. This hike will take you from Franz Josef town to the Franz Josef Glacier viewing area, traversing a rocky riverbed path and passing by waterfalls.
Hiking the Franz Josef Glacier Walk is a great way to see and appreciate Franz Josef Glacier from the ground without spending a dime. The walk is easy with no ups or downs. The trail begins after you cross the bridge across the Waiho River, where you will find the trailhead on your left.
Once you arrive at the trailhead, all you have to do is follow the trail that runs alongside the river, and Franz Josef Glacier will start to appear behind the mountains.
The Franz Josef Glacier Walk is 5.3 km long (roundtrip), and it takes about 1.5 hours to walk one-way. Spare around 3 to 4 hours if you plan to tackle this hike from Franz Josef town.
You can also hitchhike if you wish, as there will be a lot of travelers driving this road to go see the glacier as well. If you have never hitchhiked before, New Zealand is probably the best place to start. The country is as safe as it gets for hitchhiking.
You will be walking on rocky river beds as you approach the glacier, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes for the hike. The hike is stunning, and the view of Franz Josef Glacier from the river bed is worth all the sweat.
I highly recommend that you do this hike, even if you have already gone on the heli-hike tour. The view from the ground will allow you to see the true scale of Franz Josef Glacier, which you won't be able to see when you are on the glacier.
3. Fly Over the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers in a Helicopter
- 📍 Location: Franz Josef Glacier [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: 260 USD
If you are wondering whether you are missing out on anything when you choose to visit Franz Josef Glacier over Fox Glacier, then let's put that question to rest and go on a helicopter flight to see both in one go.
The Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight Tour from Franz Josef will take you up in the air and visit both Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers on a 30-minute fly-around in one go before landing on one of the glaciers for photos before you head back.
The Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight Tour is a great way to see both glaciers in one go, and I recommend that you do it if you are not interested in hiking the glacier. The tour costs about 260 USD per person, and you can book the tour with the link below.
4. Go Ice Climbing at Franz Josef Glacier
- 📍 Location: Franz Josef Glacier [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: 620 USD
If you are looking for something that gets your adrenaline pumping even more, you can also go and learn how to ice climb with the Franz Josef Heli Ice Climb Tour.
The Franz Josef Heli Ice Climb Tour begins with a briefing on what you can expect once you are on the glacier, before kitting you up and flying you to the Franz Josef Glacier for the climb.
The experienced guide will teach you all you need to know about ice climbing, and then you will be able to try it yourself right on Franz Josef Glacier. Even if you already have ice climbing experience, the tour will tailor to your ability level to ensure that you will have a great time on the ice.
The Franz Josef Heli Ice Climb Tour will cost you around 620 USD per person, with all the safety equipment and climbing gear provided. The tour can take up to 7 hours. You can book the tour with the link below:
Book the Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight Tour
5. Skydiving over Franz Josef Glacier
- 📍 Location: The Tandem Skydive 20,000ft from Franz Josef tour [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: 450 USD
Photo of my skydiving in Queenstown
Last but not least, if ice-climbing just doesn't do it for you, you can also go for the ultimate adrenaline-pumping activity there is: skydiving over Franz Josef Glacier and the Southern Alps.
The Tandem Skydive 20,000ft from Franz Josef tour will take you up 20,000 ft above the Southern Alps, and you will be thrown off a moving plane with your tandem instructor. As you freefall down to earth, you will be able to see the view of Franz Josef Glacier and the Southern Alps that not many people get to see. So, if you are looking for the ultimate Franz Josef Glacier experience, this is it.
The tour will cost around 450 USD for 20,000 ft, around 360 USD if you go for 16,000 ft, and it will cost you extra if you want photos and videos of your skydive. You can book the tour with the link below:
Book the Franz Josef Tandem Skydive 20,000ft Tour
When to Visit Franz Josef Glacier?
The best time to visit Franz Josef Glacier is during the shoulder seasons between September to November and March to May, when there will be considerably fewer travelers. During this time, most accommodation will offer discounted prices, making your trip way more cost-effective than the peak season (November to March).
In fact, wintertime is also considered a great time to visit Franz Josef Glacier, with the temperature hovering around 4 - 15°C, which is rather high for wintertime, due to the elevation.
The weather is also going to be a little more stable, which will increase the chance that your glacier heli-hike tour won't get canceled. Plus, the glacier is the prettiest during this time.
Visiting any time out of the peak season, you will see considerably fewer travelers during this time, while most accommodations will offer discounted prices, making your trip way more cost-effective than if you visit during the summer.
All in all, you can visit Franz Josef all year round, but you will get the most out of Franz Josef Glacier outside of the peak season.
How to Get to Franz Josef Glacier?
Franz Josef Glacier is located on the West Coast of the South Island, and in order to get there, you will have to make your way to either Christchurch, Queenstown, or Auckland – three of the main travel hubs of New Zealand where most international flights fly in and out of the country.
From the US, there are no direct flights to Auckland, Queenstown, or Christchurch, so you will have to rely on transit flights from airlines like Qantas, which often transit in Fiji and take about 19 hours.
From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Lufthansa, Qatar, Emirates, or Singapore Airlines. You will then have to transit through their headquarters to get to Auckland, Queenstown, or Christchurch. The flight will take over 24 hours, so gear up and prepare for a long ride.
From Asia, there are several airlines offering multiple routes from many hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Hong Kong that will fly you directly to Auckland, Queenstown, and Christchurch. Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Singapore Airlines are great options for traveling this route, with the fastest flight time being 9 hours.
To find a cheap flight to New Zealand, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
Getting from Auckland to Franz Josef
By Air and Bus: Queenstown is the closest city that you can fly into. Jetstar and Air New Zealand often fly from Auckland to Queenstown more than seven times a day. The journey should take around two hours and cost around $67. You can book your flight here.
Once you arrive in Queenstown, you can take the bus to Franz Josef following the instructions provided under the "Getting from Queenstown to Franz Josef" section.
Getting from Christchurch to Franz Josef
By Bus: From Christchurch, you can also take the Intercity bus to Franz Josef, but you will have to transit at Greymouth, and the journey can take up to 9 hours and cost 220 NZD.
By Car: If you are looking for a more comfortable journey to Franz Josef, you can also rent a car from Christchurch Airport and drive to Franz Josef yourself. That way, you can explore the Great Coast Road at your own leisure.
Renting a car in Christchurch will cost you around 25 USD per day, and it will take about 5 hours to drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef. To rent a car, click the link below.
Getting from Queenstown to Franz Josef
By Bus: If you want to travel from Queenstown to Franz Josef, you can take the bus operated by Intercity. They have one bus leaving from Queenstown Intercity Bus Stop at 8:10 AM on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The bus journey from Queenstown to Franz Josef will take around 8 hours and cost 76 NZD per person. You can book the bus to Franz Josef here.
If you are planning to travel longer in New Zealand via buses, I recommend you get the Flexipass where you buy hours, and you can travel any route in the country depending on how long the bus is. It is a great way to hop around the country without having to pay a ton of money.
For more information about Flexipass, please visit the official Intercity Flexipass page here.
By Car: You can also rent a car from Queenstown Airport and drive the scenic coastal road to Franz Josef in about 5 hours.
Renting a car in Queenstown will cost you around 25 USD per day, and it will take about 5 hours to drive from Queenstown to Franz Josef. To rent a car, click on the link below:
How to Get Around Franz Josef?
By Walk: Franz Josef is a small town, and the main attraction is the Franz Josef Glacier, which you can walk to in about 1.5 hours. If you are planning to do tours in Franz Josef, then you do not have to worry about how to get around as they will take you around on their shuttle bus.
By Car: If you have your own car, you can significantly shorten your travel time and visit more places in one day. If you are already driving from Queenstown or Christchurch, you can spend more time exploring the area at your own leisure. That said, you won't need a car to follow the list of things to do I recommended here. You can rent a car with the link below.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Franz Josef?
One day is more than enough to see everything in Franz Josef. Here is what your day will look like if you spend a day in Franz Josef:
Day 1: Go on a heli-hike/skydive/ice-climb tour in the morning and hike the Franz Josef Glacier Walk in the afternoon. Spend the rest of the day resting in Franz Josef.
How Much Does It Cost To Travel to Franz Josef?
Since we will be spending only 2 nights in Franz Josef, we can calculate how much you will be spending in Franz Josef for one day as follows:
Accommodation: For 2 nights in Franz Josef, you will be spending around 34 USD on accommodation.
Food: An average meal in Franz Josef costs around 10 USD, so you will spend around 30 USD on food.
Transportation: If you are sticking to hiking and going with organized tours, you won't have to pay anything for transportation.
Activities: Depending on how many activities you are planning to do, you could be spending from 250 USD to over 1000 USD on activities here in Franz Josef. To keep it simple, I will include the most popular tour travelers often do here, which is the heli hike tour. The cost for this tour should be around 380 USD.
Total budget for one day in Franz Josef: 606 NZD (444 USD).
Which tourist SIM card is best for New Zealand?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Franz Josef, New Zealand without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Franz Josef, New Zealand:
Don't expect much from New Zealand's WIFI. They are terribly outdated, with some cafes offering free 25 MB and 15-minute time-limited WIFI to their customers. Yes, really!
For a more reliable internet connection, I would recommend that you get yourself a local SIM card where you will be able to find a 4G connection in all the major cities around the country now.
Spark is a recommended carrier with the widest coverage across the country. You can purchase their prepaid SIM card "Data Lover" package at Auckland airport, which is available in 2 price points: 20 NZD for 1 GB (+1 GB for social) and 40 NZD for 4.5 GB (+1 GB for social), both valid for one month.
With Spark, you can top up your data via stores around the country, or you can simply do it online with your credit card. Very easy and convenient.
For more information about SIM cards in New Zealand, visit: New Zealand's Prepaid Data SIM Card
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
3 Comments
wow, it is awesome! i hope i could do the ice climbing like you did. luckily you weren't stick in those ices.
A great read! Is it ok if we share this blog on our facebook and google + page? Love the pics!
WOW that glacier has receded a lot in the past 3 years!