Your Guide to the FREE Franz Josef Glacier Walk (including how to walk it with kids)
Franz Josef Glacier Walk
Franz Josef Glacier is one of my favourite New Zealand glaciers, as it is easy to access with kids and is totally free to see. If you are looking at a family walk in Franz Josef Glacier, then the “Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk” is perfect. This 1.5 – 2 hour return walk will take you as close as you can walk to the Franz Josef Glacier and one a clear day, it’s quite breathtaking. It is one of the best things to do in Franz Josef. You seriously can’t come to the Glacier Region and not see a glacier.
Do be aware that you cannot walk on the glacier here, you need to take a heli hike to do this and you will not see the glacier at close up range on this walk. But if you take a look at the photos, I think you will see that it’s quite a good view. We were not disappointed. As it rains a lot on the West Coast, the track to the glacier is often changing. Rivers and streams flow in different places, there is rockfall. So don’t be surprised if your visit looks a little different to ours. That’s one of the cool things about the region, it’s always changing.
You can also do the Fox Glacier Walk, which is a similar style valley walk, but is about 2 hours return. Obviously the glaciers are both different, but we chose the shorter walk this trip. You could look at this as an alternative, especially if the weather isn’t good here, its often different just down the road.
This walk was one of the highlights of visiting Franz Josef, so below is our guide to walking the Franz Josef Glacier Valley Track with kids
- What is the Franz Josef Glacier Walk like?
- Safety on Franz Josef Glacier
- Can you walk on Franz Josef Glacier?
- Top tips for the Franz Josef Glacier Hike
- How to get to Franz Josef Glacier
- How long is the Franz Josef Glacier Hike with kids?
- Franz Josef Glacier Weather
- Other Franz Josef walks and things to do on the West Coast with kids
What is the Franz Josef Glacier Walk like?
In essence, the walk is quite an easy walk. The first 15 minutes is on a bush track, mostly flat except for a small (1-2 min) incline at the end, to reach the Franz Josef Glacier viewpoint. There are seats here, you can see a waterfall to your right and you can see the glacier from here.
If you only want a very short walk, then this is still a good place to see the glacier from. If you are only going to this viewpoint, do make sure you head around the corner, just before the track goes down the hill, as this angle is far better to see the Franz Josef Glacier.
It will take another 30-40 minutes to reach the actual glacier viewpoint, and your turnaround point. The track heads down the hill, over a river (where you get to rock hop across – my kids LOVED this) and along a riverbed like track. All of this section of the track is walking on stones. Running shoes are fine, but you might break a jandal if you aren’t careful. We actually walked in hiking boots because I just find them more stable, but they aren’t necessary, I just prefer them.
Hardest part of the Franz Josef hike with kids
The hardest part about this track, is that you can see all the way to the track terminus. It’s only a half an hour walk, but sometimes the kids didn’t feel like they were getting very far. I didn’t find it boring, but the kids often do better, if they can’t see so far ahead. This section of the track is likely to change with the weather. There is a safety board at the beginning of the track that gives a weather update and what the conditions are likely to be on the trail that day. They estimate how long the walk will be too. As the West Coast is very prone to rain, there are often more streams and rivers one week, and it could be completely dry the next. Do heed their warnings. This is alpine country and the weather is very changeable.
But, on the track there are lots of beautiful waterfalls along the way, especially up to your right hand side. Depending on the amount of rain, will depend on how many you see.
The last section is a small incline, just 3-4 minutes of uphill and you reach the final viewpoint. This is the closest you can get to the glacier on this track. It is a roped off section so you really can’t go any further. If you’re lucky you’ll also be able to see the Franz Josef Glacier helicopters fly in for the heli hike tours. My kids just love helicopters…. Are yours the same?
Safety on the Franz Josef Glacier Track
There is a safety board at the beginning of the track that gives a weather update and what the conditions are likely to be on the trail that day. They estimate how long the walk will be too. As the West Coast is very prone to rain, there are often more streams and rivers one week, and it could be completely dry the next. Do heed their warnings. This is alpine country and the weather is very changeable.
Can you walk on Franz Josef Glacier?
From this walk, no. It is far too dangerous and the ice condition is ever changing. If you do see people up there, they are with experienced guides. By no means should you attempt to walk on the glacier without one.
You can however take a heli hike and walk on the glacier itself with Franz Josef Glacier Guides. Walking on a glacier is an incredible experience. My first heli hike was awesome as you got to wear crampons (so you could walk on the ice) and check out ice caves. It felt very adventurous except it was totally safe. The views over the glacier from the helicopter were awesome too.
The minimum age to heli hike is usually around 8 years old. A bonus of doing these heli hikes in Franz Josef, is they often include entry to the Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools.
If you have older teenagers, you may also be interested in ice climbing on Franz Josef. You have to be physically fit and at least 16 years old, but you don’t need any experience for this glacier experience.
To check out the prices of flying and hiking on the glacier, click here
Top tips for the Franz Josef hike
- Check the weather and be safe
- Take a drink bottle to fill up with water straight from the waterfalls (it tastes amazing)
- If you have your heart set on seeing the glacier, allow an extra day in the region in case there is cloud. It really is worth waiting it out. How often do you get to see a glacier for free right?
How to get to Franz Josef Glacier
Driving to Franz Josef Glacier
The start of the Franz Josef Glacier walk is located just south of the Franz Josef township. Head south (towards Fox Glacier) and just after you cross the one way bridge, turn left down the road. It is well signposted for Franz Josef Glacier and you just follow the road all the way to the end and there is (free) plenty of parking available. The road is gravel in sections.
Driving to Franz Josef
- Drive from Fox Glacier to Franz Josef – 30 minutes
- Drive from Haast to Franz Josef – 2 hours
- Drive from Wanaka to Franz Josef – 4 hours
- Drive from Hokitika to Franz Josef – 1 hour 45 minutes
Walking to Franz Josef Glacier Hike
You can also walk straight from Franz Josef town if you don’t have a vehicle. It is a flat walk and there is even a scenic track that means you are off the main road (once you get closer to the glacier) It is a 4km walk from the township to the start of the Franz Josef Glacier track.
How long is the Franz Josef Glacier hike?
The walk is about 5.5km return. This took us around 90 minutes to 2 hours, but we also had a snack break and photo stop at the top, and we had to drink from every stream and waterfall that they found along the way. If you are planning for time, 2 hours would be plenty to experience it all at a leisurely pace.
Franz Josef Glacier Weather
The West Coast is known for its inclement weather. It is always changing, but always expect rain and cold just in case. If you have been doing your research into weather in New Zealand, by now you will probably know to expect four seasons in one day.
One of the best things to help you plan your Franz Josef activities, is to check in on the webcams here. They are live webcams of Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier and this can help you make your plans. I know as a parent I hate to get the kids all excited, only for them to be disappointed, so this is a great travel tool on the West Coast.
So there you have it, our guide to the #1 thing to do in Franz Josef and if the stars align and the weather is right, I’m sure this will be one of your absolute New Zealand must dos. If you love visiting New Zealand glaciers, then you might also be interested in visiting the Fox Glacier, just 30 minutes drive south of Franz Josef, or seeing the Tasman Glacier in Mt Cook National Park. The Tasman Glacier Viewpoint track is only 40 minutes return with stairs and a pretty easy walk for kids too.
If you are interested in more family friendly things to do in New Zealand, go check out the rest of our website, or click below for more fun things to do on the West Coast with kids
Other Franz Josef walks: short walks suitable for children
(Do be aware that some of these walks do close if there has been bad weather, so do check online or with the information centre to make sure they are open.)
- Peters Pools (20 minutes return)
- Douglas Walk (which can include Peters Pools and historic Douglas swing bridge – 90 mins)
- Lake Wombat Walk (1 hour, 30 minutes)
- Callery Gorge Walk (1 hour, 20 minutes)
- Tatare Tunnels Walk (1 hour, 20 minutes – bring a torch) Was closed last time we were here, so check in)
- Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier (1 hour, 30 minutes)
Other Fun things to do on the West Coast with kids
- Hokitika Gorge (above) for azure blue water and epic swingbridge
- Woods Creek Track
- Lake Kaniere and Dorothy Falls
- Brunner Mine Site (free)
Jennifer
Founder of Backyard Travel Family
Jen is a super organiser when it comes to travel. Having travelled extensively in Europe and Africa, has lived in London and the USA and holidayed in many parts of Asia, she is not a newbie to the travel space
Jen has three young children, 5 and under and travels around New Zealand with them.
what you need to know
Travel
- 10 minute drive from Franz Josef township - Head south from Franz Josef Town, cross the Waiho Bridge and take the first left. It is well signposted from here to the free carpark
The track
- easy 90 minute return walk
- mostly flat gravel trail and bush track
- rock bridges to cross the river
- waterfalls
- Franz Josef Glacier viewpoint
Suitable for kids?
This is an easy track for kids to walk, but it is a 5km return track. I'd recommend a baby carrier or backpack for toddlers to hold them when they are tired. My 4 year old walked this without any issues and my toddler walked sections of it.
Facilities
- free parking onsite, suitable for campervans too. Cannot park here overnight as the carpark closes
- Toilets at the beginning of the walk at the carpark
What to bring
- Layers as the weather is changeable, even in summer
- Water bottle to fill up with glacier water from waterfalls or streams
- camera
- sturdy shoes are better
Food options
- No food options onsite, but restaurants, cafes and supermarkets as nearby in Franz Josef township, just 10 minutes drive
What the critics thought
