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Franz Josef Glacier (English: Franz Josef Glacier, Maori:Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) is located on the west coast of the South Island in New Zealand.
Info
Along with the Fox Glacier, the Franz Josef Glacier is one of the glaciers that originate in the Southern Alps and have their glacial mouth quite close to the sea. The end of both glaciers is about 10 km from the Tasman Sea. The latter is a unique phenomenon at this geographical latitude.
Due to the location of the Southern Alps (relatively close to the sea and prevailing westerly winds), the area around the Franz Josef Glacier is subject to driving rains up into the mountains, which means that annual precipitation in Franz Josef averages 4,700 mm or 4.7 Meter is! This high value does not mean that it rains or snows continuously, but that it rains for some time every day.
Arrive
By car
The Franz Josef Glacier is located on SH6 , the main road along the West Coast of the South Island.From Hokitika it is about 1 1/2 hours drive, from Wanaka about 4 hours. Keep in mind that SH6 runs through a rainforest type of rainforest and weather conditions on the West Coast can vary a lot, with a lot of precipitation, mostly in the form of rain.
By bus
Intercity [1] has a daily service from Nelson through Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika to Franz Josef and the Fox Glacier. This bus service connects in Greymouth to the TranzAlpin train to and from Christchurch.
In the morning an Intercity bus departs from Franz Josef via the Fox Glacier to Wanaka and Queenstown. In the opposite direction, this bus will be in Franz Josef Glacier at the end of the afternoon.
Between the Franz Josef Glacier and the Fox Glacier, both lines overlap so that there are 2 daily connections (1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon) in both directions between Franz Josef and the Fox Glacier.
To look at
Franz Josef Glacier - About 1 km south of the village there is an access to the car park at the glacier mouth on the left-hand side of the road. The road to it is unpaved (gravel road) so drive carefully! Follow the directions on the green-yellow signs of the Department of Conservation (DOC), they are there for your own safety. You can walk from the parking lot to the glacier mouth, make sure you have good hiking boots and bring a rain poncho, because the weather can change very quickly and it rains every day in this area.
DOC/Te Papa Atawhai . Information Center[2] - The Department of Conservation has an office annex information center on the south side of Franz Josef's main street. It is free to enter and gives a good idea of the origin of the glacier and the flora and fauna in the area.
To do
Helicopter flight - For just over NZD 100 per person, you can take a 30-40 minute helicopter flight over the glacier. In many cases (depending on the type of flight you choose) a landing will also be made on top of the glacier. You can book a flight at the main street in Franz Josef township or via the hotel/motel/hostel where you are staying. [3] Note: Helicopter flights are weather dependent (low cloud, wind conditions).
Glacier walk - A number of local tour operators organize hikes on the glacier. Sturdy footwear required (mountain boots can also be rented through the tour operator). Climbing irons, ropes and pickaxes are usually included in the tour. If you participate in this, make sure you are warmly dressed and bring a rain poncho.
Hiking in the rainforest - The Department of Conservation (DOC) has set out a number of hiking trails in the forests around Franz Josef. For more information and directions, please contact the DOC office in Franz Josef.
To buy
The local supermarket also functions as a souvenir shop. Keep in mind that prices in Franz Josef are higher than in the rest of the country. The remoteness of the area causes this.
Until a few years ago there was no bank between Hokitika and Wanaka, nowadays there is at least an ATM in Franz Josef, near the supermarket. Most tour operators, supermarkets, motels and gas stations also accept credit cards.
Food
Going out
The only place in the village where something like this sometimes happens is the Franz Josef Hotel, just north of the village on the road to Hokitika.
stay overnight
There are several motels and lodges in Franz Josef Township, as well as a YHA Hostel and a backpackers Hostel ("Chateau Franz"). Just outside the village on the road to Hokitika is the village's most luxurious hotel (the Franz Josef Hotel), also the only official pub in the village.
Contact
all around
- Fox Glacier - Slightly less famous than its brother the Franz Josef Glacier, 30 km to the north. In addition to the same kind of tourist attractions, there is also Lake Matheson, a small lake where you can see a beautiful reflection of the surrounding mountain peaks (including Mount Cook) on a clear day.
- Copland Track[4] - This long-distance hiking/climbing trail starts in Mount Cook township and leads over Copland Pass to the West Coast. The entire route can only be walked from Mount Cook, with mountaineering equipment required on the first stretch (Mount Cook-Douglas Rock Hut). However, from SH6, on the west coast, about 16 miles south of Fox Glacier where the trail joins the main road, you can follow the trail to Welcome Flats. Here are natural hot springs and a DOC hiker's hut where you can spend the night. More information at the DOC offices in Franz Josef or Mount Cook.
| This is a usable article. It contains information on how to get there, as well as the main attractions, nightlife and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but dive in and expand it! |
