Franz Josef is a small West Coast village beside Franz Josef Glacier, best known for heli-hikes, scenic flights, rainforest walks and nearby Lake Mapourika. Allow two nights to explore the glacier and surrounding area. Franz Josef can be visited year-round, with summer offering longer daylight hours. Reach it by self-drive or coach, or via Greymouth and the TranzAlpine from Christchurch.
Best Things to Do in Franz Josef
Franz Josef is one of the few places in the world where dramatic glacial landscapes meet temperate rainforest close to the coast. Glacier experiences are the main attraction, with guided heli-hikes allowing you to walk among ice formations, while scenic helicopter flights provide sweeping views over the glacier and Southern Alps. Most scenic helicopter flights also include a snow landing, giving passengers time to step out into the alpine environment.
Ground-based nature walks provide another perspective, taking visitors through ancient rainforest and glacier-carved valleys with views towards Franz Josef Glacier from a distance. These walks also provide an opportunity to learn about the region’s geology, ecology and changing glacial landscape.
For a different perspective on Glacier Country, tandem skydiving offers an adrenaline-filled way to see the region from above, with views across the glaciers, Southern Alps, rainforest and West Coast.
Beyond the glacier itself, the Franz Josef area offers a wealth of other nature-based activities. Lake Mapourika, just minutes from town, is a serene spot for kayaking, fishing or taking in reflections of the Southern Alps. It’s also a fantastic place for spotting native birdlife and enjoying a quiet escape on the water. Nature tours here often include commentary on local ecology and the area’s fascinating glacial history.
For a deeper experience of native habitats, head to Ōkārito, known for its lagoon, wetlands, coastal scenery and birdlife. Guided kayaking, boating and nature tours provide different ways to explore the area.
Back in Franz Josef, the West Coast Wildlife Centre provides an opportunity to learn more about rowi kiwi and local conservation work.
Top things to do in Franz Josef include:
- Take a guided heli-hike on Franz Josef Glacier
- Experience a scenic helicopter flight and snow landing
- Skydive above Franz Josef and Glacier Country
- Explore ancient rainforest and glacier-carved valleys on a nature walk
- Kayak, cruise or fish on Lake Mapourika
- Explore Ōkārito Lagoon and its native birdlife
- Learn about rowi kiwi and conservation
- Take a day trip to nearby Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson
- Enjoy the cafés and restaurants of Franz Josef village
Top Things to Do in Franz Josef Compared
Franz Josef offers much more than one way to see the glacier. Visitors can walk on glacier ice, fly over the Southern Alps, explore ancient rainforest, paddle across a glacial lake or discover the wetlands and wildlife of nearby Ōkārito. The best activities depend on how much time you have, how active you want to be and the type of landscape you most want to experience.
| Experience | Time needed | Fitness level | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franz Josef Glacier heli-hike | Half day | Moderate | Helicopter access followed by a guided walk on glacier ice, with changing ice formations and alpine scenery |
| Scenic helicopter flight | 20–40 mins* | Low | Aerial views of Franz Josef Glacier and the Southern Alps, with most local flight options including a snow landing |
| Glacier Valley & nature walks | Around 3 hrs* | Low | Ancient rainforest, glacier-carved landscapes and distant glacier views, with a guide explaining the area's geology and ecology |
| Lake Mapourika | 2–3 hrs* | Moderate | Kayaking or cruising on a glacial lake surrounded by rainforest and mountain scenery |
| Ōkārito nature experiences | Around half a day* | Low–moderate | Lagoon, wetlands, coastal scenery, native forest and birdlife |
*Exact duration depends on the experience booked. Current Franz Josef products range from 25-minute scenic flights to four-hour heli-hikes, while nature and kayaking experiences are generally around three to four hours.
For first-time visitors, a glacier experience is usually the priority. Choose a heli-hike if walking on glacier ice is important to you, while scenic flights provide extensive aerial views with much less physical activity. Ground-based walks still provide glacier views while adding ancient rainforest, geology and ecology to the experience.
Visiting Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson from Franz Josef
Fox Glacier is close enough to Franz Josef to explore on a half-day or full-day trip, allowing travellers to experience both glacier areas while staying in one village. Nearby Lake Matheson adds rainforest walking and, in calm conditions, famous reflected views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mt Tasman.
Travellers staying in Franz Josef have several ways to explore the area. A Fox Glacier nature tour focuses on the rainforest, glacier-carved landscape and viewpoints around Fox, while combination experiences can add Lake Matheson or visit both Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers in a single day.
Franz Josef lies on State Highway 6 and is most commonly reached by self-drive or coach. It is a popular stop on South Island journeys between Christchurch and Queenstown, connecting Hokitika and Greymouth to the north with Fox Glacier, Haast, Wānaka and Queenstown to the south.
Getting to Franz Josef and Where to Travel Next
Travellers coming from Christchurch can cross the Southern Alps by road or take the TranzAlpine to Greymouth and continue south by road through Hokitika towards Franz Josef.
Heading south, a popular route is:
Franz Josef → Fox Glacier → Wānaka → Queenstown
This route follows the West Coast through Glacier Country before crossing Haast Pass into the Southern Lakes region. Your current product range includes transfers from Franz Josef to both Wānaka and Queenstown
Heading north and east, travellers can follow:
Franz Josef → Hokitika → Greymouth → Christchurch
Travellers can continue overland to Christchurch or combine the journey with the TranzAlpine from Greymouth across Arthur’s Pass and the Southern Alps.
Franz Josef village itself is compact, with accommodation, restaurants and many tour departure points within easy reach. Having a vehicle provides more flexibility for exploring Lake Mapourika, Ōkārito, Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson, although guided tours and transfers are available for travellers without a car.
Franz Josef can be visited year-round, and there is no single best season for glacier experiences. Summer provides longer daylight hours for combining activities, while winter brings colder conditions and snow to the surrounding mountains. Heli-hikes and scenic flights depend more on suitable daily flying conditions than the season, so allowing some flexibility in your itinerary is worthwhile.
Summer, from December to February, offers long daylight hours for combining glacier experiences with kayaking, walking and wider West Coast touring.
Autumn brings cooler conditions and shorter days but remains suitable for glacier and nature experiences.
Winter brings colder temperatures and more snow to the surrounding alpine landscape. Scenic flights and heli-hikes continue to operate when conditions allow.
Spring brings increasing daylight and lush rainforest scenery, although changeable West Coast weather is possible throughout the year.
If a heli-hike or scenic flight is a priority, staying two nights rather than relying on a single day provides another opportunity to fly if conditions are unsuitable.
Two nights is a good minimum for most first-time visitors to Franz Josef, providing a full day for a glacier experience plus time for Lake Mapourika, a nature walk or another nearby attraction. Travellers wanting to explore Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson and Ōkārito may prefer three nights.
The Franz Josef area offers accommodation ranging from budget-friendly hostels and holiday parks to motels, hotels and luxury rainforest lodges. Staying in the village is particularly convenient for restaurants and tour departures, while accommodation outside the centre can offer a quieter rainforest setting.
