Franz Joseph Glacier Walk: The Cheapest Way to See the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand

One of the iconic stops for tourists in New Zealand is the Franz Josef Glacier on the South Island.

Most people go to take a helicopter hike along the top of the glacier. I balked at the $350 NZD price.

$350 to walk on ice? No thank you!

I’ve walked on my fair share of glaciers in Canada and Iceland – neither of which bankrupted me (thanks, parents!).

But I still wanted to get to see the glacier. After all, it is the only glacier in a rainforest in the entire world!

So, I found the cheapest way possible to see the Franz Josef Glacier.

And now I’m sharing it with you!

Taking the free Franz Joseph Glacier Walk is the best way to see the historic glacier for free!

Quick Facts About the Franz Joseph Glacier Valley Walk

Location: Franz Joseph, on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island

Distance: 5.4 kms

Duration: 1.5 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Type of Route: Double back

Toilets: Yes, at the entrance

Ways to Get Here: Shuttle, car, or walking

The Franz Joseph Glacier Valley Walk

The cheapest way to see the glacier is to do the Franz Josef Glacier Walk.

The walk is a 1.5 hour walking trail that takes you to the base of the glacier.

You don’t get to touch any ice, but you can take a lovely photo of it!

This is the easiest walking trail in the area. There are a number of other ones that can take up to 5 hours with minor rock climbing required.

The Franz Joseph Glacier Walk is a nice stroll, easy enough for children and people of all ages.

Of course, you can also go on the helicopter ride – but honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it.

About The Franz Joseph Glacier Walk Trail

The Franz Josef Glacier Walk is the only one safe to do in the rain – and it was raining the day I visited.

This trek is easy with minor hills. The path is well-maintained and passes a number of glacial waterfalls.

Bring a water bottle to fill up from one of the falls! But be careful: you’re going to get a bit wet.

You can extend the walk by 20-30 minutes by taking small detours. There are a few interesting bodies of water to wander to. I decided to climb up a higher lookout that ended up not offering much of a different view.

The path is dotted with information signs that show you how the glacier had receded over time. The fact that it is quickly shrinking becomes very apparent when you walk from where it was in the 1900s to where it is now.

That is usually the way to sell people to do a hell hike: it won’t be here forever.

While that didn’t quite get me, I can understand the significance of it now that I’ve seen the drastic difference that 100 odd years can make.

Still, I would rather see the glacier than spend the extra $300+ to stand on it.

Franz Joseph Glacier Walk vs Heli-Hiking

The Glacier Walk is a unique hike. You’ll walk through a rainforest at the start of the trek, passing by jungle-esque vines. Then you suddenly emerge to see a volcanic valley track. Here you can get the fresh glacial water from a waterfall.

In your own time, you’ll come upon the Franz Joseph Glacier.

While you may not be able to touch it, you can learn a lot about its history from the signs.

A heli-hike is a very different experience. It’s more about the shock and awe of the helicopter ride and hiking on the glacier itself.

You’ll be given special gear to trek the ice.

While it sounds cool, and my friends did get to taste some of the ice, it ultimately seems like a waste of money to me.

They saw the same ice I did, but had to spend much more. While they may have touched it, I’m not sure if that’s a good idea sustainability-wise.

Also, they have strict weight limits, weather limits, and time limits. It’s all so much more rigid!

I preferred getting to visit the glacier on my terms rather than someone else’s.

Besides, it left more time for the hot pools after!

My Experience Walking the Franz Joseph Glacier Valley Track

The walk is really peaceful with few people on it first thing in the morning. I went around 8am and only ran into about a dozen people on the way to see the glacier.

On the way back, I passed almost double that.

Don’t expect a quiet walk, either. Because Franz Josef is well-known for its heli-hikes, the area is constantly buzzing with helicopters.

The little kid in me kept stopping to crane my head to find the helicopters amongst the clouds.

They look like tiny bugs in every photo I managed to snap, but they sounded like they were inside your skull the noise was so loud.

Take some earplugs or prepare to listen to music if you’re going alone and don’t want the soundtrack to your walk to be helicopter blades!

GETTING TO THE FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER WALK

The walk starts about an hour outside of Franz Josef, the town most people stay in.

You can walk the one-hour distance to the start of the hike if you want. It’s flat terrain along the main road. If you get a map of the city, it’s very easy to see the route you’ll need to take.

To cut the extra two hours off your hike, you can take a $12 NZD vehicle transfer that will take you there and back.

My hostel recommended a shuttle service that picks up from every hostel in Franz Josef. Check at the front desk of your accommodation for information on a shuttle, or visit the city’s I-site for a pickup.

Call the shuttle service 30 minutes before you leave to have them come pick you up.

They take card or cash, and carry a change box if you don’t have the exact amount.

If you have a car, there is a parking lot at the start of the walk with plenty of space for all ranges of vehicles. It’s free to park there.

WHAT TO BRING ON THE GLACIER WALK

I started the walk at 8am, so it was chilly out. I brought sunglasses in case it got sunny, but put on my rain jacket and sweater to begin with. Eventually, the rain cleared and I did need those glasses.

Since the glacier is in a rain forest, bring a rain jacket. You never know when the weather will turn!

The shots of the forest and the glacier are gorgeous, so don’t forget your camera.

Wear good shoes. The path isn’t hard to walk, but it has some gravel. Don’t risk rolling your ankle by wearing sandals.

Bring water and a snack.

You can do the Franz Josef Glacier walk alone. Most of the more dramatic hikes require you to have a partner.

When is the best time to hike to the Franz Joseph Glacier?

The best season to visit the glacier is in summer, when the weather in the rainforest is more predictable. You’ll still likely get rained on, but there are more possibilities for clear days.

Summer in New Zealand runs from December to February.

I don’t recommend visiting in the winter, when the track is very wet and can even get icy. The fog will likely make it impossible to see the glacier.

The best time of day to visit the Franz Joseph Glacier is as early in the morning as possible. It’s the main feature of the region, so there’s a lot of tourists. Going around sunrise, or oven as late as 8 or 9 am will allow you to have more freedom on the trail.

Wrap Up: Hiking the Franz Joseph Glacier Valley Track

If I have any more trips to New Zealand, I’d probably still skip the heli-hike and do this hike.

It’s so peaceful being able to walk on your own schedule at your own pace. Even if you didn’t see a glacier from above, it was still really cool learning about its history and how long it is.

This walking trail is great for solo travellers who don’t feel like rounding up hiking buddies.

It’s also the safest to do on a rainy day – and there are a lot of those in a rainforest!

If you want to see the Franz Josef Glacier, but don’t want to break the bank, consider going on the Franz Josef Glacier Walk.

Save your money for the better activities in New Zealand, like visiting little blue penguins or skydiving!

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