West Coast Glacier

The west coast of the South Island is a narrow strip of land known for its pristine and rugged coastline. With its many peaks and glaciers, crystal clear lakes and sparsely populated villages and towns, the region is the ideal place to experience New Zealand's pristine natural landscapes. The complex and varied topography has made the area a great adventure destination. Adventurous friends will not get bored with the exciting and fun activities here: helicopter hikes on the glacier, skydiving, rafting……you name it. The Fox or FranzJoseph glaciers of the world may be the region's most attractive sights, attracting countless people from all over the world. Although there are more than 140 glaciers flowing down the Southern Alps, only the Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier on the west coast have been able to penetrate into the low-lying rainforest, and only here and Argentina have this natural phenomenon in the world. Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are two of the most visited glaciers in the world. One can take a close-up tour of the natural wonders of this place with a guided tour. Experienced guides will lead you up the glacier, through ice towers, pancake rocks, caves and crevices. For more adventurous adventures, ice climbing, mountaineering and helicopter excursions are also available. The complex and varied topography of the West Coast provides good conditions for adventure sports. Whether it’s a helicopter hike on a glacier, rafting through a glowworm cave, or skydiving in the Southern Alps, you can experience the thrill of extreme sports accompanied by the beautiful local natural scenery. The source of Franz Josef Glacier is in the Southern Alps, extending all the way into the temperate rain forest, only 300 meters above sea level. Glacier hikes can be arranged in neighbouring towns. In addition, it is not difficult to reach the end of the glacier. Scenic flights also provide an extraordinary bird's-eye view of the glacier.