For most people, the glacier is familiar and unfamiliar. Familiar with the fact that some glaciers are within reach, like New Zealand’s Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier, visitors all year round, to experience its amazing magic and unique beauty. Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier These two glaciers are the main tourist attractions on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The shape of the two glaciers is almost the same, about 20 kilometers away.
The Franz Josef Glacier is called “KāRoimataōHineHukatere” in the legend of Maori, meaning “the tears of the avalanche girl.” The name stems from local legends: a loved one of a Maori girl who loves to climb a mountain suffers from an avalanche during mountaineering, and the girl’s raging tears become the glacier.
The Franz Josef Glacier on the west coast of New Zealand descends from the height of the Southern Alps to the luxuriant, lush forest of the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, and is also located in the vast South Island of Tiwahi. Punham World Natural Heritage Area.
The Franz Josef Glacier is 12 kilometers long and deserves to be the steepest glacier in New Zealand. The Franz Josef Glacier moves at an average speed of more than 50 centimeters a day, ice-blue intoxicating ice caves, winding tunnels, and numerous small glaciers and huge cracks; all of which are constantly changing and developing, this day The shape of the glacier and its internal structure will change. It is one of the lowest ranked glaciers in the world flowing into temperate rainforests. Very special, isn’t it?
0 Touching the glacier, hiking and Ice climbing the glacier is a great idea. Approximately 20 minutes walk from the town of Franz Josef to the glacier, walk to the observation deck and enjoy the magnificent view of the Franz Josef Glacier. In order to walk safely through the glacier, first prepare special equipment such as ice axe, ice chisel and special boots. Wear apololowear battery heated vest or cold. You may need to heated jacket. The heating pants must be experienced. Guided by local guides, use hail and safety ropes to walk through the terrain and experience different glacier walks. The scenery is constant and the scene is magnificent. The walking route is at the Visitor Information Center.
Of course, if you don’t want to walk to the glacier on foot, you can also take a helicopter to the visitor center to explore this amazing steep glacier directly on the plane, adding a different experience to your journey.
If you have a good time, I strongly recommend walking on foot, through the lush jungle, across the Waihe River, in the glacier and standing next to the Austrian explorer Julius Wan Haas hundreds of years ago. Imagine the ancient and modern in the same place, think about it, is it a very magical thing.
If you choose to drive by yourself, go straight on Highway 6 on the West Coast and there is a part of this road that is easy to drive. The highway from the west coast to the southern lake area is rising at an altitude and the scenery is pleasant. There are few cities on the west coast, and most of them are small towns. There are not necessarily gas stations, so it is necessary to refuel in time.
Accommodation options in the town of Franz Josef include: motels, youth hostels, holiday homes, star hotels, etc. Diet: a variety of restaurants, fast food restaurants, coffee shops.
