Franz Josef Glacier: Untamed Beauty in the Southern Alps
Franz Josef Glacier sits just 25 minutes from its twin Fox Glacier. One of the most accessible and most popular glaciers in the Southern Alps, Franz Josef, New Zealand gets thousands of visitors every year. The fourth largest glacier in New Zealand, Franz Josef Glacier is also known as Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere (translated from the Māori as the tears of Hine Hukatere). Legend has it that Hine Hukatere asked her lover Wawe, who was a less experienced climber to ascend the mountain with her. Wawe fell to his death during an avalanche, and heartbroken Hine Hukatere cried tears that flowed down the mountain and froze, forming the glacier.
Best Time to Visit
Franz Josef Glacier is unpredictable; it rains most of the year. Winters (June-August), however, are relatively stable, with clearer and sunnier days. Because there are fewer crowds during winter, you can get good Franz Josef Glacier hotel deals and accommodation rates. The busiest months in the glacier are November to March, and it can get really crowded during this period.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Experience the relaxing and rejuvenating feeling only Franz Josef’s Glacier Hot Pools can bring. Book tickets to the Westcoast Wildlife Centre and learn more about the two endangered kiwi species rowi and haast tokoeka. Visit the St. James Anglican Church and be mesmerized by its ecclesiastical design. Make Te Waonui Forest Retreat, which features luxurious rooms and a covered outdoor terrace, your home away from home. Aspen Court Motel Franz Josef is also highly recommended for its location, cleanliness and facilities.