5 minute read
ROAD TRIP: A journey to Fox Glacier
Hokitika to Fox Glacier via SH 6 - 2hr 6min, 157km
The trip south from Hokitika takes you into glacier country, with the towering Southern Alps and thunderous sea framing the scene. Every settlement you drive through has stories to tell, many of hardship and triumph, of history being made as early European settlers made their mark.
Advertisement
The road turns inland and takes you through Ross, once a thriving gold-mining centre and now a place to try your luck gold panning. On to Whataroa on the banks of the Whataroa River, where local carvers operate out of their studios, and there is a small museum of Māori artefacts.
The rugged coastline means that at the top of every bluff you are rewarded with wide vistas. Stop at the many viewing spots and take photos worthy of a National Geographic front cover.
Franz Josef Glacier © Franz Josef Glacier Guides
HIGHLIGHTS
LAKE MATHESON/TE ARA KAIRAUMATI
This very pretty lake features mountain views and on a calm day, the reflection of Aoraki Mt Cook. Take the gentle, all-access walk around the lake; it’s 2.6km and will take about 1 hour 30 minutes. There is a café at the car park, with wonderful views.
LAKE MAHINĀPUA
This tranquil lake sits just 10 minutes south of Hokitika and is a revered scenic reserve. You can camp overnight here, or just stop for a picnic, go swimming, or pick one of the four easy walks ranging between 10-30 minutes.
LAKE IANTHE/MATAHI
About half way between Hokitika and Fox Glacier, this forested edged lake is popular for camping, boating, trout fishing and swimming.
ANDRIS APSE GALLERY
On the outskirts of Franz Josef, this private gallery show cases the work of one of New Zealand’s leading landscape photographers.
Lake Matheson © Miles Holden
HARIHARI COASTAL WALKWAY
Seldom visited except by locals, this looped walk is one of the West Coast’s most scenic. Allow 3 hours to complete the circuit through estuaries, bogs and swamp forest. Always check tide times.
WEST COAST WILDLIFE CENTRE
This is the best chance you will have of seeing the shy, nocturnal kiwi. Located in Franz Josef village, the centre runs a successful hatch and release programme.
WAITANGITAONA WETLAND WALK
An easy, wheelchair and stroller-friendly walk through regenerating forest and flax wetland to a viewing platform. 20min loop.
ŌKĀRITO BEACH
While the lagoon is all peace and calm, the beach is windswept and dramatic, and wonderful for long, birdwatching walks.
Fox Glacier guided hike © West Coast Tourism
ŌKĀRITO
This special lagoon is well worth the short detour off SH 6. A huge, shallow area of open water and tidal flats,the lagoon is a birdwatcher’s paradise. More than 70 bird species, including many rare species such as royal spoonbills, kōtuku/white heron and a small population of rowi kiwi, make this their feeding ground. Hire a kayak or join a tour to get close and be surrounded by utter tranquillity. Visit the settlement of Ōkārito, too. Donovan’s Store, one of the oldest buildings in the South Island, has historic photos on its walls and Ōkārito Wharf has information panels sharing stories of the town’s past.
GLACIER HOT POOLS
When you need a break from the adrenalin of all your adventure activities, you can relax in natural hot pools that have been built to nestle deep in the rainforest. The pools are fed by water that flows from the Franz Josef Glacier, but that fortunately is warmed up before it hits the pools.
MINNEHAHA WALK
Close to the township of Fox Glacier is this 20min, 1.2km delightful walk that follows a small stream through rainforest. The track is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies and is a great introduction to the forest for children.
Kotuku/white heron, Okarito © West Coast Wilderness Trail
FOX GLACIER
Fox Glacier is a small township tucked into the foothills of the Southern Alps. It’s a busy tourist town because it’s geared up for glacier walks, hikes and flights – and it does it well, with award-winning cafés, restaurants and plenty of accommodation in town.
Having come all this way, you’ll be pleased to find the glacier itself is easy to see. From 2600m in the Southern Alps, it has descended 13km to just 300m above sea level. You can take a helicopter to the glacier and join professional guides leading journeys onto the ice. You can also take a helicopter or ski plane up to the top where the glacier begins. Fox Glacier is the neighbouring glacier to Franz Josef Glacier and is fed by four other glaciers.
Extra special adventures include hopping in a helicopter to hike and fish in the otherwise inaccessible reaches of the Southern Alps,or walk to Gillespies Beach and watch the sunset with a couple of kaka (native parrots). There’s also a surprising view of the glaciers from the beach.
Fox Glacier selifie © West Coast Tourism
FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER
A town and a glacier, Franz Josef is part of Te Wāhipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. It was named after the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I (1830-1916), by geologist Julius von Haast. The bustling village has great dining options and a variety of amenities. The glacier is a 5km drive from the town, and then a 45-minute walk from the car park will take you within 750 metres of the terminal face, making it one of the world’s most accessible glaciers. If you want to feel the ice beneath your feet, there are a variety of guided tours including heli-hikes using one of the many helicopter operators in the area. Franz Josef Glacier runs near Fox Glacier, but it’s the slightly shorter of the two stretching just under 12km as it runs down the mountains to near the coast.
Exploring native forest in Franz Josef Lake © Franz Josef Glacier Guides
STOP OFF AT ROSS
In 1909, Ross achieved glory by unearthing New Zealand’s largest gold nugget, the 2.81 kilogram ‘Honourable Roddy’. A replica of Big Rod can be found in the Ross Goldfield’s Information and Heritage Centre. Nudging both windswept beaches and the Southern Alps, Ross has plenty of natural beauty, with historical buildings that only amplify its charm. The Gold Trail is a one-hour looped walk from the centre of town, while the Water Race Walkway weaves through native forest and old gold workings.
Ross Railway Bridge © West Coast Wilderness Trail
