Josef West Coast way to see the glaciers. Because everyone needs an epic story to tell.
Glacier
Westland Te Poutini National Park Extending from the Southern
Country
Alps to the West Coast, this is a landscape of dramatic contrasts, forming part of Te Wāhipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Make the most of your time here with guided tours, rainforest hikes, scenic flights, rafting and guide-led heli-hikes.
Fox Glacier Hokitika
Aorakian exploration of the waterways
Lake Matheson Easily
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Aotearoa’s best known ‘mirror lake’. Just 5km from Fox Glacier township, come and see the perfect reflection of Aoraki Mt Cook in its glass-like water – best experienced on the gentle, 90-minute looped Lake Matheson/ Te Ara Kairaumati Walk.
around Ōkārito Lagoon. With a snowy mountain backdrop, paddle past white herons and rare birds. Freedom rentals and guided trip are both available.
Josef
South Westland Salmon Farm A beautiful pit stop along SH
in for salmon feeding, a cosy er6,cafécallwith la Ga wood burner, an elevated acsit
H views of the Southern Alps, gold
Gillespies Beach For stunning
deck with views of the salmon farm and a salmon shop.
Country
mining remnants and invigorating coastal walks, this beach is just out of Fox Glacier. Stay at the campsite for its nearby seal colony, scattered mining relics and walks to Gillespies Lagoon where there's an old miners' tunnel.
Lake Gault Track During the course of three hours and 8km, each panoramic view of Aoraki Mt Cook is better than the last, and if the weather plays ball, the same vistas are mirrored in the lake.
Fox
ierHot Tub Experience GlacWaiho
Kayak Ōkārito Lagoon Twentyfive minutes north of Franz Josef Glacier, join Ōkārito Kayaks for
Sinking into a private wood-fired hot tub certainly isn't a bad way to
Aoraki
Mt Cook
Haast
50
TOP TIP: Not quite as steep as Franz Josef, Fox Glacier’s mellower slopes lends itself to gentler heli-hikes.
finish a day on the ice. Soak and dine packages mean you needn’t lift a finger.
Paddle and Soak Get on the water with Franz Josef Wilderness Tours and kayak the glacial black waters of Lake Mapourika. Afterward, jump in Waiho Hot Tubs and warm your extremities back up.
White Heron Sanctuary Tours An informative and fun tour through undisturbed native forest to see the only White Heron/ kōtuku nesting and breeding site in New Zealand. Located near Whataroa, a drive to Ōkārito Lagoon is followed by a jet boat ride up the river.
Skydive Fox or Franz Josef. The ultimate thrill and a great
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Learn the history of Aoraki Mt Cook and surrounds, Hillary’s life-long achievements and stories from Mountain Rescue. Tickets are valid for 48 hours and include access into the 126-seat theatre.
Stargazing Tours Aoraki Mt Cook is part of an International Dark Sky Reserve. Departing Hermitage Hotel in Mount Cook Village, the ‘Big Sky Stargazing’ adventure is a one-hour guided journey across the cosmos with astronomer Kate.
West Coast Wildlife Centre In Westland’s lowland forest lives the only remaining population of the endangered rowi – New Zealand’s rarest kiwi. Meet one yourself at this wildlife centre in Franz Josef. They run a successful hatch and release programme for the rowi and Haast tokoeka kiwi.
Westland Wonderland Gracing the movie screen in the Alpine Adventure Centre theatre in Franz Josef, experience the best of the surrounding landscape and nature of Glacier Country in 2D format. Running hourly from 10am.
Glacier Valley Eco Tours Provided with big ole raincoats, umbrellas, hot drinks and snacks, take a guided walking tour in Glacier Country. Groups are small and the pace is relaxed. Get ready for gigantic waterfalls, icy discoveries and an enrapturing array of flora and fauna. Guided tour, Fox Glacier RIGHT: Roaring Billy Hut, Haast BOTH: © West Coast Tourism BELOW: Aoraki Mt Cook, Canterbury © Adobe Stock
Kayak Tasman Glacier Lake Beneath the almighty presence of Aoraki Mt Cook, kayak Tasman Glacier Lake with Southern Alps Guiding. The best bit? Getting face-to-face with glistening ice bergs.
Snowshoe Tours Trek through remote, mountainous terrain, staying overnight in frosted huts while staring into the glossy folds of New Zealand's highest ice face. For experienced alpine mountaineers, multi-day snowshoeing is on the extreme side of adventure. PAGE 7 - REGIONAL MAP
