WEST COAST: GLACIERS

The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are two iconic attractions on the West Coast. Rivers of ice flowing down the mountain valleys before melting into a river.

We were driving up from Haast, so we came to the Fox Glacier turnoff first. There is plenty of parking at the end of the long drive alongside the river. It's also worth stoppng to see the old bridge that was built to cross over the so that visitors cold access the glacier at a time when the glacier extended down much closer to the main road.l

These glaciers act like giant thermometers for the average temperature of this part of our world, and they've been receding now for many years. 

It takes around an hour return to walk to the glacier from the carpark, and even then you can't safely go any closer than around 200 metres. However, you can take a guided tour that takes you onto the glacier itself.

The walk is through a rugged valley that was carved out by the glacier over thousands of years. All along the river was lined wth large lumps of ice that have broken off the glacier and been washed away.

While the track is over a rugged and rock-strewn valley, it is well maintained, and warning signs advise where you can go safely.

Conditions can change very rapidly, so be prepared with good footwear, and waterproof clothing should it rain.

Fox Glacier from as close as we could go

Tour group walking on the glacier

The valley carved out by the glacier