Top 7+ Things To Do Near Fox Glacier For First-Time Visitors
Don’t miss these things to do near Fox Glacier and Franz Josef for first-time visitors. You won’t regret adding these to your bucket list.
🇳🇿 This post is a part of my New Zealand Travel Guide.
New Zealand’s West Coast is known for glaciers, rainforests, coastline, and breathtaking mountain vistas. Many people skip the West Coast entirely because they think it’s too rainy (which they would be correct) and not a convenient place to add to a New Zealand road trip.
The West Coast was one of my favorite places on the South Island due to its unmatched diversity. One minute you’re staring at craggy peaks, and then the next, watching waves crash on the beach.
➡️ Looking for a complete New Zealand South Island itinerary? Check out my post that covers 21 days of activities with campsites and a road map.
The mix of flora was insane. Who knew you could have alpine conditions butt up against lush rainforest species?
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Plan Time For Things to Do Near Fox Glacier
Spend as many days as your schedule allows on the West Coast to ensure you have enough flexibility with timing. Rain can make trails muddy, clouds can obstruct the landscape, and lightning can ground helicopter flights.
Things to do near Fox Glacier include numerous hiking trails and scenic viewpoints. On a clear day, Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman loom impressively over the lower valleys. Each side of the mountains has a distinct feeling. If you only visit the eastern side, around Hooker Valley, you are missing out on the large-scale sweeping mountain scenery that the West Coast provides.
Discover these top things to do near Fox Glacier for first-time visitors and add them to your itinerary.
More Things to Do in New Zealand
See these posts if you want to discover more things to do during your time in New Zealand.
What to Expect on a Milford Sound Boat Tour
10 Bucket-List-Worthy Outdoor Things To Do Near Wānaka and Queenstown
9 FREE Things To Do in Auckland | Exploring on a Budget
Paid Things to Do Near Fox Glacier
These are paid experiences near Fox Glacier that are well worth it!
Book a Fox Glacier Heli Hike
A Fox Glacier heli hike is one of the top things to do near Fox Glacier, and the reason most people travel to the West Coast of New Zealand. It’s truly an experience like no other.
I won’t go into all the details here, but I’ve got an entire review post written with everything you need to know before booking a heli hike. Make sure to have several days available in the area, so if the weather cancels your flight, you have a couple of days to use as backup.
The price tag is a bit steep, but I felt it was well worth the time we spent on the ice, and the helicopter ride was spectacular. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, too.
Originally, we planned to do a Franz Josef Glacier heli hike, but after the rain canceled our flight, we pivoted and got a last-minute spot on a Fox Glacier flight with Fox Glacier Guiding. If I were to do it again as a first-time visitor, I would encourage you to book a Fox Glacier heli hike. The previously mentioned post answers why.
Backpack the Copland Track
Distance: 16.7 km (10.4 mi)
Elevation Gain: 720 m (2365 ft)
Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Hard
Copland Track Map
If you want to get a taste of the New Zealand bush, staying at a backcountry hut is the way to go. The Copland Track is 22 minutes from downtown Fox Glacier. You do need to make a reservation to stay at the hut or campground.
I’ve got a fantastic resource post that goes over how to book DOC campgrounds and another post about what to expect when you stay at a backcountry hut in New Zealand.
One of the best parts about the Copland Track is the hot pools at the Welcome Flat Hut. After a day of hard trekking and crossing many suspension bridges, soak in the hot pools. We went in the early morning before heading out back to the car park, and we were the only people there!
You can choose to hike the track out and back in the same day, but you’d have to start pretty early and/or trail run to make it back at a reasonable hour. Take your time and stay at the hut for a night or two.
We wished we had booked two nights at the Welcome Flat Hut instead of one. The warden told us that the views farther up the trail are truly awe-inspiring and that he recommends staying two nights so you can hike up the trail as a day trip and return to the hut again later.
If you’re a backpacker, you’ll want to put this towards the top of your list of things to do near Fox Glacier.
Sip Coffee at the Matheson Café
A walk around Lake Matheson is free, so visiting the café and purchasing a little treat is optional, but highly recommended 😉
Ordering a coffee or chai and a savory roll after a stroll around the lake and sitting on the patio to take in the view is the best way to end a hike, in my opinion. The rolls are so fresh, and the service is marvelous.
One day, I’d love to order a breakfast or lunch meal and spend more time savoring the experience. If you do have the time (and the weather is cooperating), I’d recommend planning on staying a while.
The gift shop is also adorable. Poke around over there while you wait for your drink.
Free Things to Do Near Fox Glacier
You don’t have to spend any money to have a memorable time.
See Reflections at the Lake Matheson Walk
Distance: 4.2 km (2.6 mi)
Elevation Gain: 122 m (400 ft)
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Lake Matheson Walk Map
I had seen pictures of Lake Matheson during my research of things to do near Fox Glacier, and couldn’t believe how scenic it really was in real life. The whole path around the lake is well-maintained, and we saw people of all ages enjoying themselves.
You can choose to walk up or down stairs to various viewpoints to get a better vantage. The Reflection Island lookout was my favorite spot, and View of Views was a close second. I loved being close to the water at Reflection Island vs. the View of Views takes you up high.
The funny thing is, we ended up walking around the lake twice. Clouds obscured our view, and there wasn’t much of a reflection the first time. Then the next day, we woke up at the Gillespies Beach campsite and noticed the mountains were finally visible after days of cloudy conditions.
We rushed to get to the lake and practically ran to the Reflection Island viewpoint. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Clouds were starting to form high in the sky, and the lake was glass. I was elated that we were able to see the iconic vista with our own eyes.
Just another reason to plan several days in this area. Everything is very weather-dependent, and conditions can change on a dime. By the time we walked back to the Café, the clouds were completely covering the mountains once again.
Cloudy afternoon at Lake Matheson
Clear morning at Lake Matheson
Fox Glacier View
Stop at the Fox Glacier View Point
Right off the side of the road, the Fox Glacier Viewpoint is a quick 6-minute drive from the Matheson Café. It’s worth the stop to get a glimpse of the glacier from afar. If you want to get up close to the glacier, booking a heli hike is the ultimate experience.
Free Things to Do in Franz Josef
Franz Josef is about a 30-minute drive from Fox Glacier. Easily go back and forth between the two towns while you are checking out these things to do near Fox Glacier.
Hike the Alex Knob Track
Distance: 15.45 km (9.6 mi)
Elevation Gain: 1,094 m (3,592 ft)
Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Hard
Alex Knob Track Map
Unfortunately, the day we hiked the Alex Knob Track, it was so cloudy that we didn’t get the view of the Franz Josef Glacier that we wanted, but it was still a gorgeous hike. Trek through the rainforest and end up above the bushline with glacial views (if the weather permits!).
This hike features considerable gain, so be prepared to hike for several hours. Bring everything on my day hike packing list and wear rain pants if the day is gloomy. We were glad we had ours when a sprinkle turned to a downpour.
Franz Josef Glacier from the Alex Knob Track
Trekking on the Alex Knob Track
Enjoy the Franz Josef Glacier Walk
Distance: 1.28 km (0.8 mi)
Elevation Gain: 25 m (82 ft)
Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Franz Josef Glacier Walk Map
We did the Alex Knob Track in the morning, and by afternoon, the clouds had dissipated, so we decided to get a better look at the glacier on the Franz Josef Glacier Walk. This gentle walk is paved and accessible to most.
Parking can be a challenge, depending on the day, as this is a popular spot. It was crowded on the walk, but that’s to be expected on a short and easy trail.
If you’re lacking time or don’t want to complete a hard track, make sure to add this stop to your list of things to do near Fox Glacier.
Gillespies Beach Campsite Vista
Fox Glacier Accommodation
Book the Gillespies Beach Campsite
If you’re looking for a DOC campsite with fantastic views that’s not too far from Fox Glacier, the Gillespies Beach campsite takes the cake. You have panoramic views of the mountains if you walk just a little way up a hill past the sites and the ocean on the opposite side.
The beach was very windy when we were there, so we didn’t spend much time near the water. There are also some historical sites you can walk to from the convenience of the campsite. We totally could have spent more time around the campsite exploring.
➡️ Driving a campervan around New Zealand was by far the best option for accommodations. Read my post about renting a campervan in New Zealand and what you need to know before booking.
