The ‘frozen tears’ will dazzle you
Where is it?
Franz Josef Glacier, Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere – The Frozen Tears of the Ice Maiden, lies in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of the South Island. It is part of a Unesco World Heritage site, Te Wahipounamu – the Greenstone Waters.
What is it?
Franz Josef Glacier is an 11-kilometre river of ice which descends from 3000 metres high in the Southern Alps, to 350m in lush rain forest. Moving at a rate of 1-2m a day in the winter and 3-4m a day in the summer, it is the world’s steepest and fastest-flowing commercially guided glacier.
Why go?
Three excellent reasons – it’s spectacular, easy to get to, and retreating fast.
Exploring the dazzling blue-white landscape with its maze of crevasses, caves, sharp peaks and curious ice formations is literally breath-taking.
Franz Josef Glacier is one of the most accessible on the planet, terminating at 350m above sea level just 18km from the sea. The glacier is only 5km from the township of Franz Josef so you can hike there or take a guided walk to a look-out where you can safely view the terminal face. A five-minute helicopter ride with Franz Josef Glacier Guides will whisk you up to the ‘‘Pinnacles’’ area of the glacier where the ice fractures and tumbles in
Franz Josef Glacier is spectacular, easy to get to, and retreating fast.