FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

The 12 km long Franz Josef Glacier is the main attraction of the village of the same name and is known as the most accessible glacier in the world. The visitors' parking lot is less than 5 km from the village. There are some nice tracks around the village to have nice views on the phenomenon and the region, like the Sentinel Rock Walk (20 minutes round trip), Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk (1h30 round trip) or Roberts Point Track (5 hours round trip). Alex Knob Track is probably the most impressive (8 hours round trip) and leads to the top of Mount Alex Knob, at an altitude of over 1,300 meters. At the entrance of the site, very interesting information panels trace the evolution and the movements of the glacier over the last century. Thus, if we notice that its terminal has strongly receded because of its melting, we also know that it is not frozen and that it advances at an impressive speed! Glaciers are naturally unstable zones and it is not rare that landslides occur. The last one (December 1997) buried the parking lot. The DOC "checks" the behemoth every day and can close a dangerous hiking trail at any time. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with its neighbor Fox, Franz Joseph embodies the major attraction of the West Coast. Many service providers have taken advantage of the great natural quality of the glacier to offer activities.