New Zealand Walk: Franz Josef - a must do

Franz Josef Glacier Walk a must do

Amust see on most kiwis bucket lists is to view the Franz Josef Glacier in the West Coast. Just 5km from the township of Franz Josef is the car park where walks start to the viewing platform of this world famous glacier.

In 2019 the Franz Josef Glacier area was the third-most-visited tourist spot in New Zealand.

The track to the viewing platform is wide and carefully graded. It is known as the Forest Walk and starts at the car park about fifty meters from the public toilet.

When you reach the Forest Walk viewpoint there are the informative interpretation boards on glaciology and the history of the area. At this point you can also catch your first glimpse of the Franz Josef Glacier and begin to understand the enormity of the glacier itself.

Here, the blue ice looks like polished marble and you can begin to see the crevasses where the dynamic flow of ice has literally been ripped apart. The precipitous rock walls that flank the glacier are over one kilometre high and create an optical illusion that the terminal face is not very high.

At the holiday season many walkers are quite happy to go as far as the viewing platform and view the glacier, but for the more adventurous, there is a route to be as close as 700m to the glacier.

Starting from the viewing platform, follow the markers in the riverbed past Trident Falls to a point close to the terminal face of the glacier. This is not a track but a route over the shingle and rock of the riverbed and it can be quite rough underfoot. Here you will need suitable footwear.

The last section of track to the safety barriers includes a short climb to the viewing area. Do not go past the barriers and pay attention to all signage as areas of the valley are hazardous and are not safe for visitors.

This is a beautiful yet volatile place – do not let the serene scene fool you. The glacier is constantly moving. Ice and rocks fall from the terminal face without warning. Creeks may rise up

Above: A view of the Franz Josef from the viewing platform. Below left: The shared pathway from Franz Josef.

to a metre in even moderate rain. Water levels rise in as little as 15 minutes.

The fact that this point is less than 300 metres above sea level and is one of three glaciers in the world this close . to the coastline is remarkable on a world scale.

Fact file

Getting there: Drive or walk south from the Franz Josef Waiau township across the Waiho River bridge and turn left onto the Glacier Access Road or Te Ara a Waiau. Drive or walk for approximately 4 km to the car park at the end of the road.

Franz Josef Glacier Forest Walk to viewing platform – Allow 45 minutes return Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk – One hour 20 minutes return Above, middle and below: The wide walking track through the Forest Walk is a very popular walk in holiday season

Right: Walking along the Forest Walk. The Franz Josef Glacier can be just seen on the left top. Franz Josef Glacier Walk a must do

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