Fox Glacier offers different ways to experience the glacial landscape: a helicopter flight takes you to a remote section of Fox Glacier, while nearby trails pass through forest and valley landscapes. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth checking where each activity starts: some experiences begin right in the township, while others are in the surrounding area or on the coast.
Getting there and glacier experiences
Fox Glacier is on State Highway 6. InterCity operates regular bus services to Fox Glacier from Nelson, Queenstown and destinations along the West Coast. Check timetables and current availability before travelling. From the main road, the surrounding area offers access by car and on foot to a dynamic glacial landscape in a forested setting.
The Fox Glacier Express departs from Fox Glacier Township by helicopter, flying 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 may affect operations. Fox It Up Heli Ice Climbing also flies by helicopter from the township to an ice-climbing site in the higher reaches of Fox Glacier. No prior experience is required for this tour; guides provide comprehensive instruction. The two experiences therefore differ mainly in their focus on glacier walking or ice climbing.
Valley and rainforest trails
The Fox Glacier South Side Walkway/Cycleway runs along the south bank of the Fox River through old-growth podocarp rainforest; the access point is 2 km south of the township. The first viewpoint is about a 40-minute walk away. Bicycles 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 trail conditions before visiting.
Another option is Fox Glacier Valley, less than 6 km from Fox Glacier. There are walking and cycling options with different views of the glacial valley. The short Minnehaha Walk, near Fox Glacier, follows a stream through rainforest and is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Glow-worms may be visible in the forest after dark, but sightings are not guaranteed.
Lakes and viewpoints
The glacially formed Lake Matheson lies 6 km from Fox Glacier in old-growth forest. On calm, clear days, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Tasman and the forested shoreline may be reflected in the water. The Lake Gault Track branches off the Lake Matheson/Te Ara Kairaumati Walk. This historic hiking trail climbs through old-growth podocarp forest and offers panoramic views of Aoraki/Mount Cook; in good weather, the mountain landscape may be reflected in Lake Gault. To reach the trailhead, drive from the centre of Fox Glacier Weheka Township along Cook Flat Road to the Lake Matheson car park. The two lakes therefore differ mainly in the reflections at Lake Matheson and the uphill forest trail with panoramic views at Lake Gault.
Peak Viewpoint is 9 km from Fox Glacier towards the coast and offers panoramic views of the névé region of Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tuawe and the Southern Alps Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. Gillespies Beach is also in the coastal direction, 21 km by road from Fox Glacier Township. The short Gillespies Suction Dredge Walk starts at the main car park there. It passes the historic remains of a suction dredge used by gold miners in the late 19th century. A tramping track also leads from Gillespies Beach to Galway Beach, where the seal colony uses the area as a resting place in winter.
Discover more destinations: Okarito, Ross, Whataroa, Kakapotahi, Bruce Bay, Kokatahi, Otira, Hokitika
For the overarching travel overview: Westland District.
