West Coast Glacier Short Stay Packages are five-day, four-night journeys from Christchurch to Queenstown, staying in Franz Josef or Fox Glacier. Travel takes approximately five hours by TranzAlpine train, then 2½–3 hours’ driving to your base, with three full days exploring Glacier Country. Packages include a station transfer, train travel, rental car, accommodation and guided adventures. Request your preferred start date; availability and weather determine the confirmed programme. They suit active couples, friends and families with older children.
Which West Coast glacier package should you choose, and what will you do?
Choose between two five-day escapes with different combinations of glacier, rainforest and lake experiences. Both give you four nights in one village, allowing you to settle in and explore the surrounding landscape over three full days. Your choice comes down to which glacier you would like to hike and whether you prefer kayaking or an e-bike and walking adventure.
| Package | Overnight base | Standard duration | Included experiences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franz Josef Adventure Escape | Franz Josef | 5 days, 4 nights | Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike; Lake Mapourika Kayak Classic Tour; Franz Josef, Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson nature tour |
| Fox Glacier Adventure Escape | Fox Glacier | 5 days, 4 nights | Flying Fox Heli Hike; Fox Glacier Valley E-Bike & Hike; Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson nature tour |
Franz Josef combines walking on glacier ice with paddling through rainforest-lined waterways. The helicopter takes you onto the glacier, where a guide leads the hike using specialist equipment. Kayaking offers another perspective on the region, with mountain views when conditions allow and a closer look at the forest surrounding Lake Mapourika.
Fox Glacier pairs its heli hike with a guided journey through the glacier valley by e-bike and on foot. You experience the landscape from the ice, then explore how the glacier has shaped the valley below. This combination suits travellers who enjoy cycling as well as walking and want both activities within their short stay.
The included nature tours add glacier viewpoints, forest walks and Lake Matheson. These ground-based outings explore the wider environment, while the heli hikes provide the opportunity to walk on glacier ice. Choose the standard package that best matches your interests, then request any activity substitutions before confirming your itinerary.
Where do the packages go, and where will you stay?
The standard journey begins in Christchurch, crosses the Southern Alps by train and continues south along the West Coast by rental car. Greymouth is the connection between rail and road travel. From there, the route passes Hokitika and Ross before reaching Glacier Country, where your accommodation becomes the base for the next four nights.
Staying in Franz Josef puts your heli-hike departure and village facilities close at hand. Lake Mapourika lies nearby, while the full-day nature tour reaches Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson. You keep the same accommodation throughout the glacier portion of the holiday, returning after each booked experience.
The Franz Josef package offers Legacy Te Waonui Hotel, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier and Bella Vista Motel Franz Josef Glacier. Choose according to your preferred accommodation style, room layout and meal arrangements. Families should request the particular bedding configuration they need rather than relying on the property name alone.
Fox Glacier provides a base close to the Flying Fox departure point and the valley e-bike tour. Its accommodation choices include Scenic Hotel Te Weheka, Heartland Hotel Glacier Country and Bella Vista Motel Fox Glacier. Nearby Lake Matheson adds a forest and lakeside setting to the mountain and glacier experiences.
On Day 5, continue south through South Westland and Haast Pass towards Wānaka and Queenstown. This final road journey connects rainforest and coastal landscapes with the Southern Lakes region. The package ends after rental-car return in Queenstown. Arrange any Queenstown accommodation or onward travel to fit the final driving day, and request a revised route if you would prefer a different starting or finishing point.
What transport, accommodation and activity equipment are included?
These escapes combine independent travel between destinations with guided experiences during your glacier stay. Your private transfer takes you from Christchurch city accommodation to the railway station. After the rail journey, collect your rental vehicle in Greymouth and drive to the village chosen for your package.
The standard package includes:
- A private transfer from Christchurch city accommodation to Christchurch Railway Station.
- TranzAlpine train travel from Christchurch to Greymouth.
- Five-day hybrid intermediate AWD SUV rental from Greymouth to Queenstown, with unlimited kilometres and the rental inclusions specified in your quote.
- Four nights’ accommodation in Franz Josef or Fox Glacier at the selected property.
- The three guided experiences listed for your chosen escape.
- Specialist activity equipment and local transport where specified by the booked operator.
The Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike provides glacier boots, crampons and the equipment needed for the guided ice walk. The Flynin Fox heli hike also supplies specialist footwear and glacier equipment. You bring the personal clothing and essentials requested by the operator, including warm layers and sun protection.
Cycling, kayaking and nature-tour equipment depends on the experience. Your booking confirms bike and helmet arrangements, kayaking gear, pickup instructions and any available wet-weather clothing. Check those details before packing so you can bring suitable everyday walking clothes without duplicating specialist equipment supplied for the activity.
Your accommodation, train booking and guided activities form the arranged parts of the holiday. You drive between destinations and follow the meeting-point instructions for each outing. Allow time to collect the car, settle into your accommodation and reach activity check-in.
Ask for optional experiences or substitutions when tailoring the itinerary. The confirmed programme should show the final activities, accommodation, rental arrangements and any added nights, giving you a clear plan for all five days.
When do the packages depart and finish, and how much travel time should you allow?
Allow five calendar days and four nights for either standard escape. Day 1 combines the Christchurch station transfer, TranzAlpine journey and drive south from Greymouth. Days 2–4 provide three full days in Glacier Country. Day 5 is the drive to Queenstown and rental-car return.
| Stage | Package arrangements | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Christchurch to Glacier Country | Morning station transfer, train to Greymouth, rental-car collection and drive to your accommodation | Approximately 5 hours by train, followed by around 2½ hours’ driving to Franz Josef or 3 hours to Fox Glacier, plus collection and stops |
| Days 2–4: Glacier Country stay | Three included experiences, returning to your chosen village accommodation | Three full days; individual check-in and pickup times are confirmed with the booking |
| Day 5: Glacier Country to Queenstown | Self-drive through Haast Pass and the Southern Lakes region, then return the vehicle | The itineraries indicate approximately 5 hours’ driving; allow a full travel day, with extra time for stops and road conditions |
The published TranzAlpine timetable schedules departure from Christchurch at 8:15am and arrival in Greymouth at 1:10pm. Confirm these times and your station-transfer pickup when booking. Plan to be in Christchurch before the package begins so you can make the morning departure comfortably.
Request your preferred package start date, subject to train seats, accommodation, rental-car availability and activity bookings. The train currently operates daily, and the glacier heli hikes operate year-round, weather permitting. Your complete package is confirmed once all its components can be arranged together.
The standard route finishes in Queenstown on Day 5. Confirm the rental return location and opening hours, and leave sufficient time before any onward flight. Weather can affect glacier activities, so keep the order of Days 2–4 flexible where operators can accommodate a change.
Which meals are included, and how should you plan food during the stay?
Meal arrangements depend on your accommodation choice and the experience booked. Check the meal plan alongside the room description when choosing your glacier escape. This is particularly useful on the first day, when the train journey and drive take up much of the day, and on the full-day nature outing.
In the Franz Josef package, Legacy Te Waonui Hotel includes breakfast each morning and dinner on the first night. The dinner features a degustation menu of up to five courses, with choices available through the menu. This option suits travellers who would like breakfast arranged before their activities and a booked dining experience on arrival.
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier and Bella Vista Motel Franz Josef Glacier are offered on a room-only basis. You can plan meals at local restaurants and cafés or choose suitable cooking facilities where available in the selected room. Confirm what your particular unit provides if preparing meals is part of your holiday plans.
For Fox Glacier, Scenic Hotel Te Weheka includes daily cooked breakfast. Confirm the meal plan for your chosen property and room, including any changes requested when tailoring the booking. Other meals should be planned around the day’s activities.
The TranzAlpine has an onboard café, with meals and drinks available separately from a standard Scenic Class ticket. Bring lunch and drinking water for the full-day guided nature tours; their listed refreshments include hot drinks and biscuits. Pack snacks and water for the heli hike and kayaking or cycling day as requested by the operator.
Tell the team about dietary requirements before booking catered meals. Go New Zealand’s food, wine and beer experiences provide ideas if you would like to add a dining experience before Christchurch departure or after reaching Queenstown.
Are the packages suitable for families, and how active do you need to be?
Both escapes suit travellers who want an active holiday with guided outdoor experiences and independent driving. Consider the requirements of the complete itinerary when choosing for a family. An activity that welcomes younger children does not establish suitability for every experience included across the five days.
The Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike lists a minimum age of 10 years, while the included full-day Franz Josef, Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson nature tour has a minimum age of 12 years. The standard Franz Josef combination therefore suits families with children aged twelve and over who can manage the walking programme. Lake Mapourika kayaking generally welcomes children from 4 years, subject to equipment fit and operator approval.
The Fox Glacier package includes the Fox Glacier Valley E-Bike & Hike, with a minimum age of 13 years. Participants must fit the available bike frames and ride confidently on roads and cycle trails. The standard Fox combination is therefore best suited to teenagers and adults comfortable with both cycling and walking.
Glacier hiking requires balance, agility and the ability to walk over uneven ice. Previous glacier experience is not required for the standard heli hikes, but participants need a moderate level of fitness. Nature tours also involve substantial walking: the published full-day routes cover approximately 10.8 kilometres for Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson, and 13.5 kilometres for the three-location Franz Josef tour.
Discuss ages, riding confidence and walking ability when enquiring. Younger families or travellers seeking a gentler pace can request different experiences and confirm the revised programme before booking. Explore Franz Josef family tours and activities for alternatives that better match everyone travelling together.
