Fox Glacier: Glacier, Rainforest and Lakes

Fox Glacier as a base for nature experiences

Fox Glacier is located on State Highway 6. The area around the town combines a dynamic glacier landscape with a forested setting; it is accessible by car and on foot from the main road. Possible experiences include helicopter flights to the glacier, hiking and cycling options in the valley, rainforest trails, as well as lakes and viewpoints. The activities you plan can give your search for a hotel in Fox Glacier a clear direction.

Glaciers and trails in the valley

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 tour combines the flight with the opportunity to hike on the glacier; weather and glacier conditions may affect operations. Fox It Up Heli Ice Climbing also departs from the town: a helicopter takes you 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 experiences therefore offer different activities on the glacier.

Fox Glacier Valley is less than 6 km from Fox Glacier and offers opportunities for hiking and cycling, with different views of the glacier valley. The Fox Glacier South Side Walkway/Cycleway follows the south bank of the Fox River through old-growth podocarp rainforest; access is 2 km south of the town. The first viewpoint can be reached after about 40 minutes on foot. Bicycles must be left at the old car park, and the rest of the route is on foot. Because of the extreme risk of flooding, visitors must not go beyond the designated viewpoint. Rockfalls or flooding may affect access; check current track conditions before your visit.

Lakes, rainforest and viewpoints

Lake Matheson is a glacially formed lake, 6 km from Fox Glacier and surrounded by old-growth forest. On calm, clear days, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Tasman and the forested shore may be reflected in the water. The historic Lake Gault Track branches off the Lake Matheson/Te Ara Kairaumati Walk. From the town centre, follow Cook Flat Road to the car park at Lake Matheson to reach the trailhead. The track 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. For a different view, head to Peak Viewpoint, 9 km from Fox Glacier toward the coast: from there, the panoramic vista takes in the névé region of Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tuawe and the Southern Alps Kā Tiritiri o te Moana.

The short Minnehaha Walk runs near Fox Glacier alongside a stream through the rainforest and is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Glowworms may be visible in the forest after dark; sightings are not guaranteed. This makes the trail different from both the longer hiking options and the viewpoints: the focus here is on the rainforest and the possibility of seeing glowworms.

Gold-mining history, coast and getting there

Gillespies Beach, 21 km by road from Fox Glacier, is a historic gold-mining settlement. The short Gillespies Suction Dredge Walk starts at the main car park and passes the remains of a suction dredge used by gold miners in the late 19th century. At Galway Beach, the seal colony uses the area as a resting place in winter; it can be reached via a tramping track from Gillespies Beach.

InterCity operates regular bus services to Fox Glacier from Nelson, Queenstown and destinations along the West Coast. Check current timetables and service availability before travelling. This lets you fit the different outings into your travel plans without treating them as one single tour.

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

For the broader travel overview: Westland District.