What to do in Franz Josef at a glance
The list is a selection, not a ranking. Entries 1 to 4 are about the Franz Josef Glacier (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere): two short walks, a heli hike and a snow-landing flight. Entries 5 and 6 are near Fox Glacier. Entries 7 to 10 are at Ōkārito. Entries 11 and 12 are a day trip and a jump from the air.
One point shapes many plans. The public valley walk does not reach the ice. DOC reported the lookout 3,000 m from the glacier front on 20 October 2026, and the Fox South Side lookout 2,600 m away. You get onto the ice only by helicopter. Prices below are for adults in 2026 and can change.
The glacier and the valley (1 to 4)
The walks are short and cost only parking. The flights are the way onto the ice.
1. Walk the Franz Josef valley track
A rainforest path of 1.7 km return, about 30 minutes, to a lookout over the valley. It is rated easy to moderate. The river has cut off the foot route beyond the lookout, so do not go further. Parking costs NZ$2.50 per half hour, up to NZ$20 a day.
Valley walk guide →2. Climb Sentinel Rock
A short walk of 900 m return, about 20 minutes, with a brief easy climb. You see the valley, the Waiho River and the glacier from above. Dogs are not allowed.
Walk times and parking →3. Take a heli hike onto the ice
A guided walk on the glacier with a helicopter flight in and out. The trip takes up to 4 hours, with up to 2.5 hours on the ice. It costs NZ$899 per adult or child in 2026, and the minimum age is 10. Weather can delay or cancel departures, so book for your first day.
Heli hike guide →4. Fly with a snow landing
A scenic flight that lands in the snowfield for a short stop, with no long walk. The Helicopter Line lists 25 minutes for NZ$395, 35 minutes for NZ$495 and 40 minutes with Aoraki/Mount Cook for NZ$695, landing included. Confirm the rate when you book.
Helicopter flights →Our picks: things to do
A heli-hike, a flight with a snow landing and a kayak tour.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Glacier hike with helicopter transfer
Helicopter flights to the glacier and back, a guided hike, and crampons, boots, poles, rain gear, helmet and gloves. Food, drinks and hotel transfer are not included.
Check availability →
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier flight with a snow landing
A 30-minute flight over both glaciers plus a snow landing, with pilot commentary. The listed 35 minutes include the landing; no exclusions are listed.
Check availability →
Kayak and walking tour from Franz Josef
Kayak gear, jacket, trousers and dry bag, a nature guide, tea and coffee and transport to the walk start are included. Food and water are not.
Check availability →Things to do around Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
Heli hikes, flights, kayaking and day trips, with live prices and availability.
Fox Glacier, the lake and Ōkārito (5 to 10)
Drive south for the lake and north for the lagoon.
5. Walk the Fox South Side track
A public track of 6.4 km return, about 2 hours on foot or 1 hour by mountain bike. The first view of the glacier comes after about 40 minutes. It starts from a car park on SH6, south of the Fox River bridge, and dogs are not allowed.
Fox Glacier guide →6. Circle Lake Matheson
A loop of 4.4 km, about 1 hour 30 minutes, easy to moderate. A shorter walk to the Jetty Lookout is 2.4 km return and 45 minutes and is wheelchair-suitable, but the full loop is not. Reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman need a clear, windless dawn or dusk. The car park is free, dogs and boats are not allowed.
Lake Matheson guide →7. Paddle the Ōkārito lagoon
Kayak hire costs NZ$85 for two hours, NZ$95 for half a day and NZ$110 for a full day, per person. A guided trip starts from NZ$165. The full day suits experienced paddlers at suitable tides.
Okarito guide →8. Look for rowi on an evening tour
A kiwi tour starts about one hour before sunset and lasts 3 to 5 hours, at NZ$150 per person. The guide looks for wild birds, so a sighting is not guaranteed. Numbers are limited each night.
Okarito guide →9. Climb to the Ōkārito Trig
A 1 hour 30 minute walk, rated easy, to a lookout over coast, lagoon and mountains. It follows the Wetland Walk and the Three Mile Pack Track first and branches off after 10 to 15 minutes.
10. Stroll the Ōkārito Wetland Walk
A boardwalk and forest path of 1 km return, about 20 minutes. It is wheelchair-suitable to the lookout, and dogs are not allowed. There are no shops or petrol stations in Ōkārito, so bring supplies.
A day trip and a jump (11 to 12)
Two experiences that are not in the village.
11. Visit Hokitika Gorge
A separate day trip, not an attraction in Franz Josef itself. The loop is 1.6 km and takes 1 hour 30 minutes, easy to moderate. DOC lists 30 minutes from Hokitika, and Franz Josef to Hokitika is 135 km, 1 hour 43 minutes, so allow about 2 hours 15 minutes each way. The car park is free, and water can look grey after heavy rain. Check the current track status before you go.
Hokitika Gorge guide →12. Jump in a tandem skydive
A 13,000 ft tandem jump for NZ$429 per person, or NZ$699 for two (Double Deluxe), with about 45 seconds of freefall and roughly 3 hours in all. The meeting point is 63 Cron Street. The regular weight limit is 100 kg. The jump depends on the weather.
Tours compared →On a rainy day
Rain is common on the West Coast, and flights are often the first thing to move.
The Glacier Hot Pools are closed, and no reopening is confirmed, so do not plan around them. The page on hot pools explains the situation and the options. The short Wetland Walk and the forest path to the valley lookout are the walks that still work in drizzle. Keep your first day free for a heli hike, so a weather delay leaves room to move it. Operators advise this.
If your trip continues across the Alps, see things to do at Mount Cook and Milford Sound.
Things to do in Franz Josef: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Franz Josef?
That depends on your budget and time. The valley walk costs only parking, a heli hike gives the longest time on the ice, and a snow-landing flight is the shortest way onto it. The list above is a selection, not a ranking.
Can you walk on the glacier without a helicopter?
No. The public valley track ends at a lookout about 3,000 m from the ice on 20 October 2026. Guided walks on the glacier use a helicopter.
How many days do I need in Franz Josef?
The heli-hike operator recommends at least 2 days, because flights can be delayed by weather. Use the first day for the tour and keep the second as a spare.
Is it worth driving to Lake Matheson and Okarito?
Lake Matheson is about 30 minutes by car from Franz Josef, per DOC. Ōkārito is 15 km north on SH6 plus 13 km on a sealed road. Both fit into a half day each, and Lake Matheson has a free car park.
Are the hot pools open?
The Glacier Hot Pools are closed, and no reopening is confirmed. The hot pools page lists the latest status.