Fox Glacier
Walk on a glacier
Fox Glacier, named after Premier Sir William Fox when he visited in 1872, is 12km long (and getting shorter!) and terminates just 12km from the coast.
Like Franz at the Franz Josef Glacier, Fox (pop 400) is a bustling little township that survives thanks mainly to international visitors. It has plenty of accommodation and eating & drinking spots and is only 23km south of Franz.
Fox Glacier Guiding operate superb heli-hikes and guided walks on the glacier. This is the full-on experience and likely to be why you’ve made the effort to get here.
Fox Glacier South Side Walkway/Cycleway is a 6.4km return track, recently built after flooding wiped out the road and track on the north side of the river. The first viewpoint of the glacier is reached after approx 40 minutes of walking.
The beautiful and highly recommended Lake Matheson walk is only 6km west of town.