About the West Coast
Overview
The west coast of New Zealand is a wild area with a width of no more than 50 kilometers and a population of only 31,000! Although referred to by locals as “The Coast”, it is full of rivers, rainforests, glaciers and other unique landscapes.
The Southern Alps separate the West Coast from the rest of the country, so the locals are independent and determined, accustomed to self-sufficiency. But at the same time they are friendly and hospitable, sit down with a coaster and have a beer and they will tell you many fascinating stories of the West Coast.
The mountain roads on the west bank are winding, but the scenery is “unique here”, and the above picture has already told you the answer. But there are so many things to play on the west coast, how do you choose?
If you want to experience a very classic project on the West Coast in a short period of time, what should you do?
The west coast is famous for its glaciers, among them “Franz Glacier” and “Fox Glacier”.
Franz Glacier recommended reasons
- Franz Glacier and Fox Glacier are the fourth and fifth largest glaciers in New Zealand respectively, and are currently the two easiest glaciers in New Zealand to see.
In early Maori culture, the Franz glacier translated as “the tears of an avalanche girl”. It is said that a girl’s lover fell from the top of the mountain and died, and the girl’s raging tears turned into this glacier.
The ice surfaces of both Franz and Fox Glaciers are fenced with ropes to prevent danger in the event of an ice avalanche or river flooding. - Location: The Franz Glacier is located in Westland National Park in the western part of New Zealand’s South Island.
- Franz Glacier Town: The glacier is five kilometers away from the town of the same name, and it takes you a 20-minute walk to the foot of the glacier. From the glacier parking lot, you can hike to the viewing area to see the spectacular glacier.
Fox Glacier recommended reasons
- The Fox Glacier is 13 kilometers long, not so steep, and slightly longer, the snow compresses into hundreds of meters of blue ice at the top of the glacier, forming a spectacular and frightening frozen landscape on the surface of the glacier. The lower surface of the glacier melts and flows into the rocky valleys, forming icy rivers that gradually flow into the temperate rainforest and then into the Tasman Sea.
- Location: Fox Glacier is a glacier located in the Southern Alps.
- Fox Glacier Town: Fox Glacier Town is 10 kilometers away from Fox Glacier, belongs to the west coast scenic area, is a must pass to visit Fox Glacier and Lake Matherson, if the weather is good, you can look up to see the snow top of Mount Cook and Tasman Peak.
How to play with projects
Glaciers have many projects, ice climbing, glacier hiking, canyon hiking, how to play these projects? What is different about Franz and Fox Glacier Experiences?
Ice climbing
Ice climbing is undoubtedly a journey of intermediate to advanced difficulty and requires a high level of physical fitness. Dedicated hiking boots, crampons, ice axes and other technical tools are required before heading to the glacier.
First, take a helicopter ride to the ice climbing site, where you’ll have a panoramic view of Fox Glacier from the air. After getting off the plane, you must officially climb the ice under the guidance of an ice climbing instructor.
Ice climbing instructors are highly trained and experienced, and will develop an ice climbing plan according to your needs, which can be participated by both novice and experienced players, and no experience is required.
There are many steep cliffs on the glacier for you to challenge, and you can quickly master the basic skills of crampons and ice axes.
The rope attached to your harness keeps you safe at all times. Professional guides will tailor them to your level and design a variety of challenges for you, so both novice and experienced beginners can enjoy ice climbing.
1. Franz ice climbing
The Franz Ice Climbing Tour is the best way for visitors to experience the amazing sport of ice climbing first-hand, while enjoying the spectacular and stunning glacier views of the Franz Josef Glacier.
Tips:
1. Up to 3 hours
2. Ice climbing is not suitable for children, the minimum age limit is 16 years old
3. Ice climbing has high physical requirements, and it is recommended for healthy tourists to participate 4. The tour requires visitors to
have certain physical requirements and English speaking ability (communication with ice climbing instructors)
2. Fox ice climbing
Step into the majestic world of Fox Glacier, with many steep ice cliffs for you to challenge. The best place to climb the glacier is determined by your guide on the day of the tour, so you can enjoy climbing Fox Glacier to your heart’s content!
Tips:
1. The duration of the tour is about
6 hours 2. Children must be 13 years old, and children aged 13-16 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Weight limit is 116kg
3. Visitors need to have certain physical requirements and English speaking ability (communication with ice climbing instructors) 4.
Wear 3-4 layers of warm clothing, wool or polyester fiber materials are preferred
Glacier hikes
There’s no better place to visit glaciers than in New Zealand, where you can enjoy spectacular glaciers and touch the ice of glacier mountains during your hike. When you stand on the glacier, you will be shocked to see the huge glacial valleys that stretch below the snow line, almost into the sea.
Here, time still “stands still” during the Ice Age.
- Fox Glacier Hiking
Climb aboard a helicopter to see the breathtaking entire Fox Glacier from the air, and after landing safely on the ice, follow the steps carved out by your guide to enter the mysterious blue ice cave and experience the magical glacier world firsthand.
Tips:
1. If weather conditions permit, the activity time on the ice is about 3 hours
2. Due to the continuous change of glacier structure, there is no guarantee to see a specific glacier structure
3. The minimum age limit for children is 9 years old, and the child ticket is applicable to 9-16 years old
4. Tourists need to have good physical fitness and a certain degree of physical flexibility
2. Franz glacier hike
A challenging ice experience and more time on ice, the Franz Josef Glacier Hiking Tour is the best option for many, with guides taking you on the lookout for peculiar glacial caves in search of beautiful blue ice.
Tips:
1.3-hour glacier hike and ice cave exploration challenging
2. The minimum age limit for children is 8 years old and must be accompanied by an adult
3. The minimum weight limit is 35kg; The maximum weight limit is 115kg
Canyon trekking
Exploring Glacier Canyon with some of New Zealand’s best walking guides is a journey not to be missed. Canyoning guides will tell you a lot of interesting stories.
1. Franz Canyon Hiking
The meandering trails left by the retreat of the glacier will show you a spectacular view. Your experienced guide will tell you the history of the glacier, telling you the stories and Maori legends behind this mysterious glacier.
Tips:
1.3-hour guided hike
2. Local professional guide explains glacier geography, local history and Maori legends
3. The minimum age limit for children is 6 years old
2. Fox Canyon Hiking
You’ll see the Fox Glacier and have the chance to hear the surrounding glaciers collapsing. If the guide determines that the glacier is safe, he will bring you closer to the glacier, which is very exciting for many people who have never seen a huge glacier. Your guide will then explain to you how glaciers form and how they play in shaping their surroundings.
Tips:
1. The minimum age limit for children is 5 years old, and the age of child tickets is 5-16 years old
2. The itinerary needs to go uphill and downhill, so tourists need to have medium physical fitness, good physical fitness and a certain degree of physical flexibility
Soak in hot springs
After a series of high-intensity exercises, take a dip in the hot springs for total relaxation. Jasper hot spring water, superior to Huaqing gravel stone pool, experience the beauty of exotic hot springs from New Zealand!
- Franz Spa
With 3 beautiful public pools with water temperatures between 38°-40°, you can relax your travels, forget your worries, and immerse yourself in a relaxed and free environment.
The spa has 2 massage rooms and offers a variety of massages including relaxing massages, hot stone massage therapies and a full body spa. Relax and rejuvenate in the most natural setting. Massages include free use of robes, towels and slippers, as well as free access to the communal pool.
Tips:
1. Address: 63Cron Street Franz Josef, New Zealeand. The meeting point is next to the Franz Josef i-site visitor information centre.
2. Hot tub business hours: 13:00-21:00 daily, Last admission to the pool is 20:00. Closed on Christmas Day
3. Child tickets are available for ages 5-16; Free for children under 5
years old
4. There is no hot spring in Fox
Look at the fireflies
In addition to glaciers, the West Coast is also indispensable to see fireflies, and the Fox Town and Hokitika Town Trails are good choices.
1. Fox Town Firefly Trail
Located on the southeast side of the town of Fox Glacier, it is a 1.2-kilometer-long circular trail, which takes only 20 minutes to walk. This delightful short walk follows a creek through lush rainforest. The road condition of this trail is very good, and it is the best choice for walking to enjoy the scenery along the way.
Tips:
How to get there: It only takes 5-10 minutes to walk from Fox Town to the start of the trail
Tickets:Free
2. Hokitika Town Trail
Hokitika is located 40 kilometers south of Greymouth. It is a quiet town on the west coast of New Zealand with a permanent population of only 4,000 people and faces the sea in the north. And it has a large firefly forest. When you walk in, you feel like you are under the Milky Way starry sky, which brings you a very magical and shocking experience.
Tips:
How to get there: About 20 minutes walk from the town centre
Admission Free