In a nutshell
- Franz Josef Glacier is one of the most spectacular highlights in New Zealand — an absolute must on any South Island road trip.
- You have two main ways to experience it: fly over the glacier by helicopter (you can even land on it!) or hike to one of several viewpoints on foot.
- The best base for your visit is Franz Josef Village — a small tourist hub with hotels, restaurants, and tour operators right on your doorstep. Our top accommodation pick is the Aspen Court Franz Josef.
The Most Important Facts About Franz Josef Glacier
The Franz Josef Glacier, at 10 kilometers in length, is one of the largest glaciers in New Zealand. To get onto the glacier itself, you’ll need to book a helicopter flight.
You can also get great views of Franz Josef Glacier from the Valley Walk, the Robert Track lookout platform, and the Alex Knob summit — all reachable via hiking trails.
Where Is Franz Josef Glacier Located?
Franz Josef Glacier sits on the South Island of New Zealand. You can reach it via Highway 6, which runs along the West Coast of New Zealand.
Important: You can’t see the glacier from the main road.
The best base is Franz Josef Village — a small tourist town in New Zealand with plenty of accommodation options and a handful of restaurants and shops.
From the village, you’re just a few kilometers from the trailheads and Franz Josef Airport.
How Much Time Should You Plan for Franz Josef?
We think one night in Franz Josef Village is the sweet spot.
That gives you time to do a hike near the glacier or a helicopter flight in the morning, and then continue your road trip through New Zealand.
If the weather cooperates and you have a little more time, you can do both — a heli flight and a hike. Totally worth it.
Hikes at Franz Josef Glacier
You can’t hike all the way to Franz Josef Glacier itself. However, there are three great trails that get you up close and offer stunning views: Valley Track, Robert Track, and Alex Knob Track.
The easiest is the Valley Track. The other two are challenging and not suitable for beginners. We’ve done both and will walk you through them below.
Franz Josef Valley Track
- Distance: 1.7 kilometers (round trip)
- Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
- Elevation gain: mostly flat
- Difficulty: easy
For the Valley Walk, drive or walk to the Franz Josef Glacier Carpark — about 4.5 kilometers from the village. From there, follow the trail through the forest a short way into the valley.
It’s more of a stroll than a hike, but you’ll catch occasional glimpses of the glacier along the way.
Note: This track does not take you all the way to the glacier!
Alex Knob Track
- Distance: 17.4 kilometers (round trip)
- Duration: 5–8 hours
- Elevation gain: 1,100 meters
- Difficulty: challenging
Alex Knob is a mountain summit with a hiking trail to the top. The view from up there is the best you can get of Franz Josef Glacier on foot — only from a helicopter is it even better.
The hike is strenuous, with 1,100 meters of elevation gain — but the trail is well-footed and technically straightforward. In some spots it can get seriously muddy, especially after rain.
The route isn’t particularly varied since you spend most of it hiking through forest. There are two viewpoints along the way, Rata Lookout and Christmas Lookout, where you can already see the glacier.
Over the last kilometer, you’ll have great views of the mountains and the West Coast. The best panorama, though, is at the summit — absolutely worth the effort!
The trail starts at the Alex Knob Carpark. It’s about 2.7 kilometers from Franz Josef Village — you can drive or walk.
Robert Track
- Distance: 9.4 kilometers (round trip)
- Duration: 2.5–5 hours
- Elevation gain: 500 meters
- Difficulty: challenging
The alternative to Alex Knob is the hike to the Roberts Track Views Platform. It’s shorter and less strenuous — but technically more difficult and more dangerous.
The trail is really varied. While you do spend most of the time in the forest, you’ll pass numerous waterfalls, scramble over rocks, and cross suspension bridges.
Note: The Robert Track can be dangerous during or after rainfall — parts of the trail may flood and the rocks get very slippery. Don’t underestimate this one.
The trail starts on the other side of the Alex Knob Carpark. You can get there on foot or by car — it’s also 2.7 kilometers from the village.
Helicopter Flights and Glacier Walks
For an even more spectacular perspective on Franz Josef Glacier, go by helicopter. Numerous heli flights run every day — and they’re not nearly as expensive as you might expect.
Book the 25-minute Franz Josef helicopter flight with snow landing
Even better than a scenic flight, in our opinion, are the glacier hikes. You land on the glacier by helicopter and then hike across it — seriously one of the coolest things we’ve done in New Zealand.
Book the Franz Josef heli flight with glacier hike
Staying Overnight in Franz Josef Village
We recommend spending one night in Franz Josef Village — it’s the perfect base for exploring the glacier.
Our hotel picks for Franz Josef Village:
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
The village also has a small supermarket, plus several restaurants and bars. Our dining recommendations:
- Alice May Restaurant: a lovely spot for dinner
- Full Of Beans: the only café in town — great for breakfast
The Alternative: Fox Glacier
Right next to Franz Josef Glacier is a second glacier: Fox Glacier. It’s not quite as well known, largely because it’s a bit more tucked away.
It’s only about 20 minutes by highway from Franz Josef Village to Fox Glacier Village. From the ground, you can see Fox Glacier from the Fox Glacier Viewpoint and the Fox Glacier Valley Walk.
Here too, the best view is absolutely from the helicopter. If you want to see both glaciers, you can combine them on a single heli flight — super efficient and honestly spectacular.
Book the heli flight over both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
Near Fox Glacier in New Zealand, you’ll also find another standout: Lake Matheson. The lake is famous for its mirror-like reflections of the surrounding peaks, and they are truly stunning. The walk around the lake is 4 kilometers long — don’t skip it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Franz Josef Glacier
Is Fox Glacier or Franz Josef Glacier better?
From the air, both are equally impressive — if you book a helicopter flight, you really can’t go wrong with either.
If you want to see a glacier from the ground, though, we’d clearly recommend Franz Josef Glacier — it has better hiking trails and viewpoints.
How long does the hike to Franz Josef Glacier take?
There’s no trail that takes you all the way to the glacier itself — only routes to viewpoints.
The shortest option is the Franz Josef Valley Walk, just 1.7 kilometers round trip and doable in 30 to 60 minutes.
Can you hike up to Franz Josef Glacier?
No — you can’t reach the glacier on foot.
If you want to actually set foot on the ice, you’ll need to book a helicopter flight.
How difficult are the hikes near Franz Josef Glacier?
Both the Robert Track and Alex Knob are challenging and not recommended for beginner hikers.
If you’re in good shape and have some hiking experience, both trails are very doable.
If you’re not sure, stick to the easy and short Valley Walk — it’s still a great experience.
How do you get to Franz Josef Glacier?
The easiest way is by car via Highway 6.
If you’re not driving, there’s also a daily InterCity bus connection to Franz Josef Village from both the north and south.
Why is it called Franz Josef Glacier?
The glacier was named after Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.
The name was given by German geologist Julius von Haast in 1865. Over time, the “ph” in Joseph was simplified to “f”, giving us the spelling we use today.
What is New Zealand's most famous glacier called?
It’s known as Franz Josef Glacier in English and Kā Roimata a Hine Hukatere in Māori — both names are officially recognized.
