Not to be confused with Franz Josef Land in the Arctic.
Franz Josef is a glacial area in Westland. It lies at the foot of the western slopes of Mount Cook and is in the middle of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
The recent spectacular ice retreat at the Franz Josef Glacier has surprised even the experts and shocked local businesspeople who thought the impressive ice river would be a reliable cash-cow for years to come.
The glacier retreated 800 m in five years, prompting suggestions of a road up the valley as the ice disappears from view. Although the South Island's steep, low altitude glaciers have always been dramatic in their advances and retreats, the rapidity of the present retreat is remarkable in geological time scales. Between 1893 and the end of its last big retreat 90 years later, in 1983, Franz Josef Glacier receded about 3 km. Then, between 1983 and 2008, this glacier advanced almost 1.5 km after heavy snowfalls. But in the following five years it melted almost 820 m.
The retreat began in 2008, and in 2011 the ice thinned by about 70 m behind the glacier terminal. Then, in 2012, a huge hole opened up and guided walks were stopped. Scientists using seismometers detected "ice quakes" - the ground shaking from an ice collapse - as a huge cavity formed beneath the glacier, eventually causing its surface to sink into it.
Tourists had been flown on to the ice by helicopter, but now even this is in jeopardy.
The walk from the car park to the terminal face is now nearly 4 km and many visitors are considering visiting the larger glacier at Fox township instead. In 2011, about 330,000 people visited Franz Josef, and 184,000 went to Fox.
DoC is considering an emergency plan to build a new road to the rapidly retreating terminal face but The Westland National Park plan and park by-laws may have to be changed so the road can be built. DoC is also considering reviewing the limit on the number of heli-hikes allowed on the glacier.
- Franz Josef Glacier
The 11-km-long Franz Josef Glacier is one of New Zealand's most spectacular natural attractions, a remnant from the Ice Age which is one of South Westland's major drawcards for visitors.
The Glacier area (which also includes Fox Glacier) attracts up to 550,000 tourists every year - most of them taking the opportunity to view the glacier close up by taking a walking tour or getting the big picture from the sky by helicopter.
The flow rate is about 10 times that of typical glaciers. From a long term perspective, the glacier has retreated since the last ice age, and it is believed that it reached the sea some 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. The glacier ends about 17 km from the Tasman Sea and the West Coast of the South Island.
Being a slow-moving frozen river, the stunning glacial landscape changes daily, and all safety warnings should be taken seriously.
Franz Josef Glacier
- Take an unguided trip. Do not pass the warning barriers at the Glacier.
- Take a guided trip.
- Take a helicopter flight.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides offer a range of trips taking visitors up on the majestic Franz Josef Glacier. From Valley Walks, half and full day options to ice climbing and heli hiking, there is a trip to suit every ability. Franz Josef Glacier Guides is the only operator permitted to guide on the Franz Josef Glacier. Bookings are essential - either online or by calling +0800 GUIDES (NZ only).
Air Safaris provide scenic flightseeing tours flying from Franz Josef. The Grand Traverse scenic flight from here offers an incredible view of the mighty Franz and Fox Glacier and rugged Westland National Park before traversing Mount Cook and the main divide to explore the vast Mount Cook National Park.
The Franz Josef Glacier walk is inaccessible as there is significant damage to the Franz Josef Glacier Access Road due to severe weather in March 2019.
Take an unguided trip. Do not pass the warning barriers at the Glacier.
Take a guided trip.
Take a helicopter flight.
- Enjoy relaxing in the newly built hot pools fed with pure glacier water. You can also book a massage after a long day exploring the Glacier. Prices for the pools start from $28.00 per adult, and massages from $85.00 for a half hour. Find out more here http://www.glacierhotpools.com/
Enjoy relaxing in the newly built hot pools fed with pure glacier water. You can also book a massage after a long day exploring the Glacier. Prices for the pools start from $28.00 per adult, and massages from $85.00 for a half hour. Find out more here http://www.glacierhotpools.com/
The Glacier Shop in the Alpine Adventure Centre on the Main Rd of Franz Josef (+64 3 752-0131) offers a wide range of quality gifts, clothing and souvenirs. You may also be interested in visiting their other store, The Hobnail Shop in the Fox Glacier Guiding Building, Main Road, Fox Glacier.
- Skydive Franz, Top End, Main road, Franz Josef. Dawn to Dusk. Skydive Franz offers one of the best skydiving experiences in the world. What better way to enjoy this wonderful place than to free fall though the sky and float gracefully to the ground using the world’s most modern, safest and most comfortable tandem parachute systems available. $295.
Skydive Franz, Top End, Main road, Franz Josef. Dawn to Dusk. Skydive Franz offers one of the best skydiving experiences in the world. What better way to enjoy this wonderful place than to free fall though the sky and float gracefully to the ground using the world’s most modern, safest and most comfortable tandem parachute systems available. $295.
- Blue Ice Cafe, Main Rd, +64 37520707. Enjoy the music upstairs after your meal. Licensed till 3AM, has DJs in house through the tourist season and has rave reviews for the lamb shanks, whitebait and pizza.
Blue Ice Cafe, Main Rd, +64 37520707. Enjoy the music upstairs after your meal. Licensed till 3AM, has DJs in house through the tourist season and has rave reviews for the lamb shanks, whitebait and pizza.
- Ross – to the north
- Fox Glacier – the bigger and least crowded glacier, just down the road to the south