Things to Do in Franz Josef, New Zealand: A Backpacker’s Guide

About Franz Josef

Franz Josef, also known by its Māori name Waiau, is a small town on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It sits close to Franz Josef Glacier, surrounded by rainforest, mountains and spectacular scenery.

If you love the mountains, enjoy outdoor adventures or fancy getting close to a glacier, Franz Josef is well worth considering for your South Island itinerary.

However, the West Coast is famous for its wet weather, and that can affect your plans. Helicopter flights and glacier hikes are weather-dependent, so it’s worth allowing some flexibility if getting onto the ice is high on your wish list.

Best Things to Do in Franz Josef

For such a small town, Franz Josef offers plenty of outdoor activities. The drive along the West Coast is part of the experience, and the surrounding area has options for both adventure seekers and travellers who prefer a more relaxed visit.

Franz Josef Glacier walks

Walking in the glacier valley is a good way to experience the surrounding landscape without committing to an expensive activity. There are walking tracks and viewpoints around the area, although access and views can change as the glacier retreats and conditions change.

Always follow signs and safety advice, and never cross barriers or approach unstable ice.

Guided glacier hikes

Guided glacier experiences offer a chance to explore the ice with trained guides. Depending on the experience available, you may travel by helicopter to reach suitable sections of the glacier.

These trips can be expensive, but they offer a very different experience from viewing the glacier from a walking track. Check what’s included, the fitness requirements and the cancellation arrangements before booking.

Heli-hiking

A heli-hike combines a helicopter flight with a guided walk on the glacier. You get the excitement of flying into the mountains as well as the chance to explore the ice with a guide.

This was the experience I was hoping to try on one of my visits. As you’ll discover in my diary below, the weather had other ideas!

Heli-hikes are weather-dependent, so if this is a priority, consider allowing more than one day in the area. Even then, a flight cannot be guaranteed.

Relax in hot pools

After a day travelling or walking, the local hot pools can be a welcome way to relax. Franz Josef has options for soaking in warm water surrounded by greenery, making this a good alternative if the weather stops your outdoor plans.

Check current opening times and prices before visiting.

Kayak on Lake Mapourika

Lake Mapourika is a scenic spot near Franz Josef, surrounded by native forest and mountain views. Depending on conditions and what’s available, you can explore the lake by kayak or join a guided trip.

It’s a good alternative if you want to enjoy the landscape from the water rather than spend all your time focused on the glacier.

Visit the West Coast Wildlife Centre

The West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef offers an opportunity to learn about New Zealand wildlife and conservation, including work involving rare kiwi.

It’s an option worth considering if the weather is poor or you fancy a break from outdoor activities. Check current exhibits and admission details before visiting.

Enjoy a scenic flight

If the weather allows, a scenic flight can provide spectacular views of the glacier, surrounding mountains and the wider landscape.

Some experiences include a landing, while others focus on the flight itself. Compare the options carefully, and remember that poor weather can lead to cancellations.

Book Franz Joseph or Fox Glacier

Anything free to do in Franz Josef new Zealand?

Free things to do in Franz Josef

You don’t need to book an expensive adventure to enjoy the area. Depending on weather and track conditions, you could:

Always check local advice before heading out, particularly after heavy rain.

My Franz Josef diary: three days waiting for a heli-hike

To be honest with you this is one of the most disappointing places I visited.  Didn’t expect that did you.

Every time I have been my attempts have been thwarted so the next time I will hike it if I need to.

Let me set the scene…

You head towards the massive glacier along the long, winding West Coast road. The anticipation builds as the scenery changes and the hills rise around you.

The weather can be wet, and that was what dashed my hopes of getting up onto the glacier. Add a little stupidity on my part, and there’s a short story to tell.

Day 1: The helicopter stays on the ground

The last time we visited, there were three of us travelling together, and we couldn’t wait to get up onto the glacier for a heli-hike. It’s not every day you get the chance to take a helicopter into the mountains and hike on a glacier.

We stayed at a pretty decent hostel with an outdoor Jacuzzi in the car park, friendly staff, great rooms and some excellent places to chill out.

Before long, we headed to the local pub for a beer or two and got chatting to the guides. They were really helpful and friendly, and they couldn’t recommend the heli-hike enough.

We went into town to book our long-awaited adventure. The guides explained the different options: a half-day hike, a full-day hike and the heli-hike. The heli-hike was the most expensive, but it also offered the chance to reach higher parts of the glacier that ordinary valley walks couldn’t access.

After a long journey, we had some food, enjoyed a quick pint and headed to bed, ready for an early start.

The next morning, we called to confirm our flight. The weather wasn’t suitable, and the helicopter was grounded. Day one was a write-off, so we made the best of it, relaxed and enjoyed another soak in the Jacuzzi.

Day 2: Still no helicopter

The next morning, we called again, full of hope.

The operator asked us to call back in an hour to see how the weather was developing. Unfortunately, it was another no-go.

We repeated some of the previous day’s activities and chatted to the local guides, who still couldn’t recommend the heli-hike enough. They could tell we were getting frustrated, but we kept our hopes up and prepared for another early start.

Day 3: The offer we probably should have taken

By day three, we were getting pretty fed up. We had travelled all that way and still hadn’t made it onto the glacier.

That evening, a rival tour operator made us an amazing offer: a free full-day hike because they’d seen how long we’d been waiting.

Brilliant! Only one little snag: the full-day hike left before we could call to find out whether the helicopter was flying.

We were there to do the heli-hike. We wanted the heli-hike.

By then, we’d also been enjoying a few celebratory beers and the company of our new local friends. Before we knew it, the alarm was going off early the next morning, and I was struggling to open my eyes after a heavy night at the pub.

The thought of hiking up a mountain wasn’t quite so appealing, especially when there was still a chance we might get our helicopter flight.

Wrong again!

And that’s why Franz Josef still holds my attention. It was one of the most frustrating and disappointing experiences of my travels around New Zealand — but I still love the place!

If you manage to complete a heli-hike, I’d love to hear how it went. Was it worth the wait? And if you’ve taken the full-day guided hike instead, how did you find it?

Planning your visit to Franz Josef

If getting onto the glacier is important to you, try to allow more than one day in the area. This improves your flexibility if the weather causes cancellations, although it doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to fly.

If you have limited time, there are still walking tracks, scenic viewpoints and other local activities to enjoy. Having a backup plan will help you make the most of your visit, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Check current weather, track conditions and activity availability before travelling, and follow the advice of local operators and the Department of Conservation.

Book Franz Joseph or Fox Glacier tours and packages now!