Fox Glacier: Glaciers, Rainforest and Lakes

Fox Glacier combines a forested setting with a dynamic glacier landscape. The area around the township is accessible by car and on foot from the State Highway; the township itself is on State Highway 6. When choosing a holiday rental as your base, it’s worth first considering whether you’d like to plan helicopter experiences on the ice, trails through forest and valley, or lakes and viewpoints into your stay.

Glacier experiences from the air

The Fox Glacier Express starts in Fox Glacier Township with a helicopter flight to a remote section of the glacier that cannot be reached on foot. The experience combines the flight with the opportunity to walk on the glacier. Weather and glacier conditions can affect operations; keep this in mind when planning.

Fox It Up Heli Ice Climbing also starts in the township and takes you by helicopter to an ice-climbing site in the higher areas of Fox Glacier. No prior experience is required, and the guides provide comprehensive instruction. The two activities differ in focus—glacier walking in one case, ice climbing in the other—but both begin with a flight from the township.

Trails through valley and forest

Fox Glacier Valley, less than six kilometres from Fox Glacier, offers opportunities for walking and cycling. The trails provide different views of the glacier valley. The Fox Glacier South Side Walkway/Cycleway offers a different experience: it follows the south bank of the Fox River through old-growth podocarp rainforest. Its access point is two kilometres south of the township; the first viewpoint can be reached on foot in about 40 minutes.

On this Walkway/Cycleway, bikes must be left at the old car park, and the rest of the way is on foot. Because of the extreme risk of flooding, visitors must not go beyond the designated viewpoint. Rockfall or flooding may affect access; check current track conditions before your visit. The restriction at the viewpoint is important to bear in mind when planning your walk along the south bank.

Lakes and mountain views

Lake Matheson is a glacial lake, six kilometres from Fox Glacier and set among old-growth forest. On calm, clear days, Aoraki/Mt Cook, Mt Tasman and the forested shoreline can be reflected in the water. Views therefore depend on conditions. The Lake Gault Track offers another, different kind of walk: the historic trail passes through old-growth podocarp forest and provides panoramic views of Aoraki/Mount Cook; in good weather, the mountain landscape may be reflected in Lake Gault.

The Lake Gault Track branches off the Lake Matheson/Te Ara Kairaumati Walk. To reach the starting point, travel from the centre of Fox Glacier Weheka along Cook Flat Road to the car park at Lake Matheson. For another panoramic view, Peak Viewpoint is nine kilometres from Fox Glacier in the direction of the coast. From there, you can see across the névé of Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tuawe and the Southern Alps Kā Tiritiri o te Moana.

Rainforest, gold-mining history and wildlife

The short Minnehaha Walk runs near Fox Glacier alongside a stream through the rainforest. The trail is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Glow-worms may be visible in the forest after dark, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Gillespies Beach is 21 kilometres by road from Fox Glacier. The short Gillespies Suction Dredge Walk starts at the main car park and passes the historic remains of a suction dredge used by gold miners in the late 19th century. The seal colony at Galway Beach is also a special wildlife attraction in this area: it serves as a resting place for seals in winter and can be reached via a tramping track from Gillespies Beach.

Getting there and choosing your base

InterCity operates regular bus services to Fox Glacier from Nelson, Queenstown and destinations along the West Coast. Check current timetables and availability before travelling. When looking for a holiday rental, the different types of outings and their starting points can be useful guides: helicopter experiences depart from the township, while trails, lakes and viewpoints offer destinations in the surrounding area. Choose based on the experiences you want to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Ross, Franz Josef Glacier, Hokitika, Otira, Whataroa, Haast, Kokatahi, Bruce Bay.

For the broader travel overview: Westland District.