Franz Josef Glacier from above the Melchior Glacier

“The Franz Josef Glacier (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience a dynamic glacial environment, in a temperate environment, while being within easy driving and walking distance of the main highway.

In the last ice age the glacier extended in a huge ice-sheet to beyond the present coastline. Although today’s glacier has retreated considerably, echoes of it’s frozen past are still apparent in the present landscape.

There are a number of short and longer walks within the glacier valley, also commercial guides available to guide you on these walks and provide further valuable information.

Alex Knob Track
Alex Knob Track

It’s a 4-hour climb to the top of Alex Knob. The track zigzags up to Rata Lookout for a view of the Franz Josef Glacier. From there follow the marked track to the summit.

Callery-Waiho Walk
Follow the Callery-Waiho Walk as it climbs to a high terrace before descending to the Callery River. The track then continues on to the Roberts Point Track.

Canavan’s Knob Walk
Canavans Knob Walk is now open after extensive upgrading.

Douglas Walk
The Douglas Walk is an easy one-hour forest walk that passes by the Peters Pool viewpoint and crosses several moraines before descending to the bridge across Dolly Creek on the way back to the road.

Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk
The 40-minute walk to the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier follows a rocky path over riverbed. Only experienced and prepared visitors should attempt climbing on the glacier.

Lake Wombat Track
The Lake Wombat Track leads you through a lush rimu forest to the idyllic Lake Wombat.

Roberts Point Track
The Roberts Point Track requires a good level of fitness. After walking one hour you will reach Hendes Hut. From there the track continues to climb on to Roberts Point where the glacier views are spectacular.

Sentinel Rock Walk
Just a short distance south of the Franz Josef township you will come to the Glacier and Sentinel Rock walks. The Sentinel Rock Lookout offers impressive views of the glacier, the valley and Waiho River.

Tatare Tunnels Walk
The 80-minute return Tatare Tunnels Walk follows an old 4WD road to a junction with the Callery/Waiho Walk. From there follow the track to the old water tunnels.

Terrace Walk
Follow the Terrace Walk as it winds through forest and goes by remnants of past goldmining operations.

The terminal face of the glacier is less than 300 metres above sea level and is just one of three to be this close to the coastline. Franz Josef Glacier is located in Westland National Park on the West Coast, 5 kilometres from Franz Josef township.

You will find this image on the front page of the website in my Featured Content Gallery. Permission has been granted to use this image under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.