Franz Josef Glacier / Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere
Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere
A glacier pouring from the Southern Alps into temperate rainforest. The glacier valley walk gives views of the ice tongue, and helicopters can land on the ice for hikes.
The glacier is about 11 km long, flowing from a snowfield near 3,000 meters down to rainforest valleys at about 300 meters. Its Māori name means 'Tears of Hine Hukatere.' The Glacier Valley walk starts from the car park and takes about 1.5 hours round trip, following the gravel riverbed of the Waiho Valley to the viewpoints. The glacier has been retreating in recent years. Shifting riverbeds and falling rocks have sometimes closed sections of the trail, so check the DOC website before setting out. Walking on the ice itself requires a helicopter heli-hike, which costs several hundred New Zealand dollars. It is often cancelled in bad weather, so allow a spare day.
Opening hours
All day (trail depends on weather and DOC notices)
Nearby sights
- Peters Pool
- Roberts Point Track
- Alex Knob Track
- West Coast Wildlife Centre
- Glacier Hot Pools
- Tatare Tunnels Walk
- Lake Mapourika
- Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tuawe