Franz Josef Glacier Travel Guide

Go to the Blue Ice Cafe, drink lots of whatever you drink eat the great food then hop in a chopper do the overland Glacier tour then get out go to the info centre get tickets for a horse ride and do the sunset beach tour. Than stay at the YHA or any of the other great venues. Rafting is also a hit you can fly into the alps get dropped off and do anything from 1-3 day tours.

Avoid the new climbing wall and talk to the locals because they know where to go, make sure you meet a guy called Scumbag aka Greg Brown and you will be the luckiest person in the world.

Also the best things are 30km before hand in HARI HARI because thats where the Wildside backpackers is get the hut out the back and stay with Dan and Kath for as long as you want, suggested minimum is a month.

The best trip to do if you have the money and great weather would be the Heli Hike. This is where they fly you up to the most amazing part of the glacier , drop you off and you explore ice Caves and Cravases for 2 Hours. When i went it was a really hot day and we got to crawl through this really blue ice Tunnel. It was the most amazing thing ever. If you are on a budget or it is raining and you dont want to get to wet the Half day is a great option for you. This is a 4.5 Hour tour which starts in the glacier valley and you get guided up the begining of the glacier. It is just and introduction to the ice so you dont get to see as much as the Heli Hike but. I have done it Three times now, it is lasways different and always impresive. The full day option is for people that want to explore the most that they can. It is 8 Hours in duration and you spend up to 5.5 Hours of it on the ice. You get to expereince all the different Glacier stages and formations. There are also Ice climbing options if you are feeling more adventurous. It is a really good work out but they teach you all the techniques of ice climbing so you are learning and having a great time all in one. The Company that provides all these tours is called Franz Josef Glacier Guides. They are the Only Company that offer it On the Franz Josef Glacier. They are really Professional and have some of the best gear.

As everyone says, do the glacier hike, it's incredible. Be careful not to cross your talons (boots) because you will fall over, and on the ice, it hurts!

You can book a skydiving trip here which takes you over nearby Fox Glacier, an unbelievable jump with Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman in the background.