The wildest side of New Zealand, the West Coast has the power to touch your soul with its landscape of brooding mountains, icy glaciers, primal forest and surreal coastal formations. The two most notable glaciers are Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, 20km apart.

Advancing or Retreating?
Franz Josef Glacier is currently 12 km long (Fox is 13km) and terminates 19 km from the Tasman Sea. It has cycle of advance and retreat, driven by differences between the volume of melt water at the foot of the glacier and volume of snowfall feeding the névé. Due to strong snowfall it is one of the few glaciers in New Zealand which is still growing as of 2007. Others have been shrinking heavily, attributed to global warming. Fox Glacier also advanced after 1985.

Franz Josef Glacier retreated between the 1940s & '80s, but then started advancing in 1984, sometimes at at rate of 70 cm a day! (10 times that of typical glaciers). Over the longer term, the glacier has retreated since the last ice age, and it is believed that it extended into the sea some 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. A postage stamp of 1946, shows no glacier behind St James Anglican Church (built 1931), but it reappeared in 1997.

West Coast Glaciers's Record Breaking

• Franz & Fox Glaciers descend from the Alps to a temperate rainforest, less than 300 metres above sea level, and close to the shoreline. (Argentina is the only other place where this occurs).
• There are around 140 glaciers from the Southern Alps.
• The West Coast has some great National Parks including: Westland, Paparoa, Mt Aspiring, Arthur's Pass and Kahurangi National Parks. The lower half of the West Coast forms part of the the South Westland World Heritage Area, which is one of the largest protected wilderness areas on earth.

Local Knowledge

• 
  Franz Josef Glacier is named after Franz Josef I of Austria and Fox Glacier is named after the 1872 prime minister of New Zealand, Sir William Fox.
• Two Australian brothers, Ashish and Akshay Miranda, were killed 8 January 2009 at Fox Glacier when more than 100 tonnes of ice fell on them. They were not part of a guided group and had crossed safety barriers and walked approximately 500 metres.

Getting Around

The best way to experience the awe-inspiring splendour of the glaciers is on a guided walking tour or a helicopter ride to the top. Flying in for a close-up view of a glacier face isn't something you do every day, and many flights involve the experience of landing directly onto the snowy glaciers themselves.

Regional Attractions Accessible From West Coast Glaciers

• Lake Matheson, near Fox township
• Gillespies Beach with a black sand/quartz pebbles, an historic gold dredge and a seal colony
• Oparara arches and honeycomb caves, Karamea
• Cape Foulwind seal colony
• Coal Town Museum, Westport
• Paparoa National Park and Punakaiki pancake rocks and blowholes
• Shantytown, Greymouth
• Jade Boulder Gallery, Greymouth
• Lake Brunner/Moana
• Hokitika working craft galleries and Historical Museum
• Lake Kaniere and Hokitika Gorge
• White heron sanctuary, Whataroa

Best Views

To view the mountain peaks drive 10km south of Fox township, past Lake Matheson and see the peaks of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.

Best Months

The glaciers are accessible all year round, but summer is a more pleasant time to experience it.

Clothing

Visitors are usually surprised by how warm/mild it is so close to ice & snow, so on a sunny day you might be surprised to be wearing a t-shirt near the glaciers.

Shopping

Besides petrol and basic supplies, there is not a lot to buy on the West Coast. There are of course, some shops for souvenirs in both Fox & Franz townships. There are several galleries in Hokitika with local arts and crafts.

Other Facts

Telephone Area Code: 03
Population: 30,500 (2005)
Summer Average Maximum Temperature : 25°
Winter Average Maximum Temperature : 15°
Local emergency contact number for all Police, Fire and St John Ambulances : 111

Activities

Things to do in the Glacier Region

West Coast Glaciers can offer the visitor some great holiday experiences as outlined below:

	Heli Hiking Franz Josef Combine a scenic helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier with a two-hour guided walk amongst the ice caves, pinnacles and crevasses. Learn glacier geology and enjoy supreme panoramic views with a guide showing the most spectacular ice formations.
	Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight departing Franz Josef See the marvelous mantle of pure white snow and land at the head of either the Franz Josef or Fox Glacier, the perfect place to view the natural phenomenon of the glaciers advancing down the carved valleys with their mountain origins high above. The flight also leaves from Fox Glacier.
	Franz Josef Full Day Glacier Adventure Strap on a set of "Ice-Talonz" (Kiwis love to put "nz" at the end of words, instead of the original "ns"), to climb the terminal face of the glacier, with squeezing through tight blue crevasses and shuffling down near vertical walls of ice. Venture through some of the most stunning and challenging terrain imaginable.
	Fox Glacier Mountain Scenic Helicopter Flight With the helicopter's ability to hover, land and provide access to some of New Zealand's most remote areas, this is an ideal choice for sightseeing the towering peaks, sparkling waterways and crevasses filled with glaciers.
	Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk An easy going, interpretive walk to the glacier with the emphasis on geographical information and the glaciers history. Venture beyond the public barriers, right up to the dramatic terminal face of this advancing glacier with an experienced guide.
	White Water Rafting On the Whataroa & Perth Rivers, about 20 minutes north of Franz Josef are two of the best one-day whitewater rafting runs anywhere on the planet. Total wilderness experience, awesome Class IV & V rapids, and stunning scenery. Accessible by helicopter only.

Activities Around The Glacier Region

West Coast Glaciers can be used as a base to explore the south of the south island.

Lake Matheson Located five minutes' drive from Fox township. Take the 1 hour 30 minute walk around the lake to see the beautiful reflection of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. The track is well maintained, and there are boardwalks and specially made platforms for getting the right angle for your pictures.

Gillespies Beach An 11km drive down a twisting unsealed road through a Rimu rainforest leads you to a camping area. From here, walk a few km more and you'll find yourself on a black sand/quartz pebble beach on the Tasman Sea. Near the beach entrance is the rusted and overgrown historic gold dredge. Several km up the beach you can visit a seal colony. It is a 3 hour round trip walk to the seal colony.

Diary of Events

Coach Tours Which Include West Coast Glaciers

The following fully escorted coach tours are our top 3 which include West Coast Glaciers.

Ultimate Southern Highlights For a refreshing change this 13 day South Island tour includes the famous Greenstone Valley 3 day trek or around 32 km of awe inspiring scenery on foot. The reward at the finish is overnight on the famous Milford Mariner cruise ship as it navigates to hidden reaches of Fiordland. Relax on the famous TranzAlpine Train through Arthur's Pass from Christchurch to the famous Fox Glacier, a most accessible glacier, in a stunning position by the sea. At Wanaka you can walk along the River to a beautiful picnic spot. Soak up the alpine atmosphere with a Scottish Haggis Ceremony in Dunedin, and then view the unusual, rounded boulders at Moeraki Beach. Coach past the tallest Mt Cook, as your guide continues to entertain you.

Best of New Zealand Fully escorted coach touring to see New Zealand's many seasons from cruising the rugged rocky coastline, Bay of Islands beaches, Maori native culture, glow-worm caves, Rotorua's geysers & hot mud pools, NZ's capital city, Interislander Cruise, fur seals & optional whale watching flight, touring past NZ's highest mountain, alpine scenic lakes, ski capital Queenstown, a tour of an historic castle, cruising on Fiordland past waterfalls & rock seals in Milford Sound, staying near icy glaciers and garden city Christchurch- all in 17 days.

Scenic Explorer Tour Comments like 'What a comprehensive tour' are used to describe this 2 week Christchurch to Auckland, guided coach tour with train trips on the TranzAlpine & TranzCoastal trains. All the best activities are included- City tours of Christchurch, Dunedin, West Coast Glaciers & Auckland, food like the Rotorua Maori Hangi & concert, the Scottish Haggis, the Queenstown cruise/ historic homestead dinner and the Montana Winery visit. Cruise on Milford Sound, the Interislander and underground boat to see the glow-worms. There is a visit to Rotorua's Thermal Reserve, sheep shearing demo, Maori culture show, trip up Auckland's Sky Tower and a Jade Stone Factory. Regions include the West Coast Glaciers, Huka Falls and Mt Cook.

Films Made in this Region

The following films were made in the West Coast Glaciers area: Magik and Rose 1999 and Bad Blood 1981.

Eating & Sleeping

Cuisine

The West Coast cuisine centres around seafood and more traditional European style cooking.

Regional Specialties

There is plenty of the New Zealand specialty "Whitebait" on the West Coast, so make sure you try some of these tiny fish, along with New Zealand's Green Lip Mussels. Huh grubs are a regional specialty in Hokitika, something like witchetty grubs in Australia.

Accommodation

The following is a selection of the hotels Relaxing Journeys use in our escorted coach tours.

Heartland Hotel Glacier Country Nestled within the Westland World Heritage Park on the West Coast of the South Island is a very special retreat away from the pressures of day-to-day life. Heartland Hotel Glacier Country is the perfect place to relax between experiencing the natural wonders of this area. Enjoy the comfort of your room, or sit back and soak up the warmth from the large open fireplace in the bar. Our welcoming staff will help make you feel right at home.

The Ashley Hotel, Greymouth The Ashley Hotel in Greymouth is the West Coast's premier hotel located in the heart of the West Coast's natural wonderland. The Ashley Hotel is an ideal base for an adventure holiday, weekend away, festival, function or conference. The spectacular natural scenery, fascinating wildlife, intriguing history and famous hospitality will make your West Coast visit a very special experience.

Premium

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier Situated on the very edge of the Westland World Heritage Park, the Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier will welcome you in true New Zealand style. Encompassing two distinctive properties just one kilometre apart, each individual wing has its own charm and atmosphere and makes the most of the lush native bush surroundings and superb alpine views.

Punakaiki Resort The Punakaiki Rocks Hotel, a truly unique tourism development on New Zealand’s incredible West Coast. We are an eco-tourism hotel, carefully designed to complement our stunning natural setting. Situated close to the famous Pancake Rocks and Blowhole at Punakaiki, and adjacent to Paparoa National Park, we take pride in caring for this special environment. The Punakaiki Rocks Hotel offers excellent comfort in innovative surrounds. It’s the ideal place from which to base your West Coast adventure.