#Franz josef glacier motels driver
The bus driver also walked with us for a portion of the alpine walk of 30 minutes, which was a nice easy walk with great views of the mountains and rugged landscape. The entire tour was conducted professionally and in a very fun and engaging way.įrom the get-go at The Hermitage Hotel meeting point, at 9.20am, the boarding of the bus begins and the driver (sorry I couldn’t remember his name) started the journey with a safety briefing and an overview of the tour. We got to see all of the different bergs floating in the lake, hear about the different ice formations, see the enormous height of the face of the glacier, feel the cold of the surface water and touch an iceberg and even hold a small one in our hands. We were lucky to be assigned to Jess's boat so enjoyed her description throughout.
Our coach tour was led by Jess who then skippered one of the four boats that takes the tourists around the lake explaining the fantastic natural phenomena that change every day. The party is split into smaller groups and load onto the high powered boats designed to get around on the lake. As the glacier retreats huge icebergs break off from its face and float in the lake, gradually melting. This lake has been formed since only 1950 by the retreat of the Tasman Glacier. Starting from the Hermitage Hotel in the Mt Cook Village, you are taken on a short coach trip then walk for about 25 minutes on a reasonable surface to the edge of the Tasman lake. Don't just imagine it - now you can do it. You can walk around the centre of town, but will need a car or a tour to explore further afield.Can you imagine touching an iceberg. Getting around Franz Josef Glacierįranz Josef is accessible by car, or you can take a bus from Christchurch, Wanaka and Greymouth. Purchase unique souvenirs from Te Koha Gallery and grab a coffee and snack at Blue Ice Cafe. If you need a cold one, head to SnakeBite Brewery to try locally-crafted beer. It’s filled with alluring restaurants, such as the rustic Alice May and The Landing, renowned for its cocktails. You can take a self-guided walk through the natural bush enclosures or organise a backstage pass to see the hatching and incubation programs.ĭon’t forget to spend some time hanging out around Franz Joseph’s lively town centre.
Get up close with unique New Zealand wildlife at the West Coast Wildlife Centre, home to kiwi birds and tuatara lizards. You can also embark on a Tatare Tunnels Walk from the town centre, which takes you through dense forest and early-20th-century bedrock mining tunnels. It features an unusually dark water colour produced by fresh rainwater, which runs into the lake through the surrounding forests. If you’re lucky, you might even get to walk through ice tunnel passageways.įor a slightly different view of New Zealand’s scenery, drive about 10 minutes to Lake Mapourika, which formed during the last Ice Age. You can embark on guided and self-guided walks up and onto the glacier or ride in a helicopter for a bird’s-eye view. You can’t visit Franz Josef without experiencing the 12-kilometre-long temperate maritime glacier called Franz Josef Glacier.
The Waiho River courses past Franz Josef, where you’ll find breweries, restaurants, hot spas and unique outdoor adventures. Franz Josef is positioned within the Westland Tai Poutini National Park and is world-famous for being the gateway to the iconic Franz Josef Glacier.
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