Franz Josef Glacier Guides

The most incredible glacier experience! The magnificent Franz Josef Glacier is widely regarded as the gem of New Zealand’s West Coast Glaciers.

Franz Josef Glacier Guides gives you the opportunity to experience the most spectacular glacier environment available to the general public anywhere in the world, offering a range of glacier hiking tours to suit all levels of fitness and ability. The ultimate New Zealand adventure tour!

Activity Options

Glacier Valley Walk

• A relaxing, highly informative personalised tour to the dramatic Terminal Face of Franz Josef Glacier
• Walk through regenerating rainforest, continue along the glacier valley and venture beyond the public barriers, right up to the dramatic terminal face with your experienced guide

• Duration: 3 hours. Departures: Daily 10.15 am & 2.15 pm
• Guide to Client Ratio: 1-13. Minimum Age: 6years

Half Day Glacier Experience

• A 3 km walk to the glacier followed by a 1.5 hour hike on the lower reaches of the glacier
• Fantastic introduction to an enthralling world of ice – after strapping on crampons you make your way up the terminal face, where pre-formed tracks make exploring achievable for most agile people

• Duration: 4.5 hours. Departures: Daily 8.45 am, 10.30 am, 12.30 pm and in summer 3.00 pm
• Guide to Client Ratio: 1-13. Minimum Age: 8 years

Full Day Glacier Adventure

• The world renowned all day option takes you into superb scenery, deep in the heart of the glacier
• The excellent step-cutting skills of your guide allows you to travel through the most spectacular and challenging glacier terrain imaginable, satisfying even the most ardent of adventurers
• With a total of 5-6 hours on the ice you could find yourself in all manner of situations, from squeezing through tight blue crevasses to sliding through ice caves

• Duration: 8 hours. Departures: Daily 8.15 am & 9.15 am
• Guide to Client Ratio: 1-11. Minimum Age: 12 years

Heli Hike

• After an exciting scenic flight, you land high up on the glacier and undertake a two hour guided hike amongst some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring glacier scenery available
• You’ll soon be making your way through a wonderland of towering pinnacles and brilliantly blue ice
• You’ll enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains with plenty of photo opportunities
• This will almost certainly be your most memorable experience whilst in New Zealand

• Duration: 3 hours. Departures: Daily 9.15 am, 11. 45 am & 2.15 pm
• Guide to Client Ratio: 1-12. Minimum Age: 8 years

Ice Climbing

• Provided with expert tuition and all technical equipment, this is a great way to introduce you to the exhilarating sport of ice- climbing
• On the glacier you will learn all the aspects of ice-climbing using the front points of crampons and two technical ice axes
• Your guide will tailor the day to challenge novices and experts alike and with no experience necessary you will soon be scaling towering walls of ice
• The Franz Josef Glacier is the most spectacular commercially guided glacier in New Zealand, the more dramatic terrain, offering higher, steeper walls of ice on which to challenge yourself

• Duration: 7 – 7.5 hours. Departures: Daily 7.45 am
• Guide to Client Ratio: 1-4. Minimum Age: 14 years

Personal Guide

• Personalised to suit itineraries, interests and abilities. Enquire about price and availability.

Other Information

• All clients are equipped with the very best in quality equipment: Gortex rain jackets, waterproof over trousers, hat and gloves, socks and glacier boots, simply making sure you are as dry and warm as possible.

• What you need to bring: 2-4 warm upper body layers, quick drying trousers or shorts (no jeans), food and drink for the day, sunglasses, sunscreen and camera.

Franz Josef Glacier Guides’ trips are longer in duration than others offered, with considerably more time on the ice, making them exceptional value for money.

Location

Franz Josef Glacier Guides Building, State Highway 6, Main Road, Franz Josef, New Zealand.