Franz Josef Activities

Ribbonwood Retreat Bed and Breakfast accommodation is ideally situated in the heart of the Westland National Park with views to the mountains, glaciers and temperate forest from every room. You will learn all about the area with our resident expert on flora and fauna, Jonathan. We are keen walkers and bird enthusiasts so can advise you on all our local walking tracks.
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The rowi (Okarito brown kiwi) habitat is on our doorstep. The breeding colony of kotuku (white heron) is in the area at at the north of Okarito lagoon. Swim and kayak in the pristine waters of Lake Mapourika with panoramic views of the Southern Alps and rainforest. Explore the beaches and wetlands of Okarito, following the historic horse and dray "pack track" through lowland rimu forest, climbing above the seaside cliffs. Adventurous guests can climb spectacular ice walls in the upper part of the Franz Josef Glacier or take an informative, friendly and relaxed eco-style tour. 

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West Coast Wildlife Centre

​See our rarest kiwi up close in the centers' nocturnal room. The centre incubates kiwi eggs and raises the kiwi chicks for the Department of Conservation kiwi recovery program.

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Flights and Heli Hikes

Scenic flights There are several helicopter companies and a couple of fixed wing scenic flight operators based in Franz Josef. The helicopters can land on the snow for fantastic photo opportunities. There is the "grand tour" that takes in both glaciers and Mt Cook, our highest mountain. There is also the option of a shorter flight to view Franz and Fox glaciers.   There are fixed wing flights up the glacier and around Mt Cook. These flights also take in the lowland forest and coastline during the flight.
Helicopter heli hikes is an option of flying by helicopter to the upper glacier for a guided two hour walk, then flying back to Franz Josef.

Okarito Kiwi Tours

Okarito Kiwi Tours is an owner operated company. They aim to take limited numbers per night out into the National Park, deep into Kiwi habitat. 

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Walks in the Franz Josef Glacier Valley

​You can walk up to close to the glacier face in about an hour. There are guided interpretive walks also available - highly recommended with Glacier Valley Eco Tours.   Glacier walks range from half day introductory trips to full day trips.  Self-guided walks range from a 20 minute stroll through pristine native forest to all-day hikes through unique altitudinal forest sequences to stunning viewpoints of the glaciers, mountains, and all the way to the Tasman Sea.

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​White Heron Tours

​​White Heron SanctuaryTours offer the only tour to New Zealand’s one and only White Heron (Kotuku) nesting site. You can view White Heron, Royal Spoonbill and other wildlife in their breeding area by taking a jet boat trip up the Waitangitoana River. Jo and I really enjoy this trip.

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​Skydive Franz

​Skydive Franz offers skydiving from 13,000 feet, 16,000 feet and 19,000 feet. Nestled between New Zealand’s highest mountains, the Tasman Sea, stunning temperate rainforest, glowing glaciers, mirror lakes and braided river beds, Franz Josef Glacier has been described as one of the most beautiful places on earth and the perfect location for your New Zealand Skydive.

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Exposed

Alpine Fault Tours will take you on a two hour discovery adventure to see where the Pacific and Australian continental plates meet. Visit the drilling site and learn how it plays a vital role in seismic monitoring and see how two active plates come together and shape the land around them. The Alpine fault line is a natural wonder of our planet that until recently has only been accessible to international geologists studying and monitoring the site. Tour hosts, Gray and Vicki, enthusiastically share their knowledge of the fault with visitors from all over the world. Their commentary and guided walk also give an informative brief of the unique New Zealand flora and fauna along the way

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South Westland Horse Treks

Experience the beauty of New Zealand's Franz Josef Glacier country on horseback. This is horse riding in paradise with a stunning backdrop of mountain ranges and rainforest. Soak up the magnificent views of the Southern Alps and the spectacular glacier, as you trek over lush farmland, glacial moraine and riverbed.

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Kayaking Lake Maporika
Kayaking at the Okarito Lagoon

The options are either a guided trip on Lake Mapourika, which is situated a couple of kilometres from Ribbonwood. Alternatively you can hire canoes for short or long term on the Okarito Lagoon, a world renown wetland and wildlife habitat. Both offer great scenery of the forests and mountains. 

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​Glacier Hot Pools

​The three Main Pools weave their way through the rainforest and offer a superb place to relax and rejuvenate in nature. An experience not to be missed. The pools are suitable for guests of all ages.

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Quad Bikes

​You will follow ancient glacial pathways carved into the landscape by ice and water and the thrill of driving these fun 2-seater ATV quad bikes through this wild place. You will be amazed at what is around every twist and turn as you are guided through rainforests, riverbeds, grasslands, sand and mud. Feel the thrill of fresh air in your face and the excitement of riding ATV quads.

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Okarito Boat Tours

A guided trip on an open air boat that takes you from from land to lagoon and beyond into the rainforest waterways with views amongst feeding birds including the graceful Kotuku– Great White heron, Royal Spoonbills, the intrepid godwits from Siberia and Alaska, the leggy Pied Stilts, and many others. 

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Sunny day views from our place

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Ribbonwood house and cottage

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Glacier Country is located among the untamed natural wilderness of the West Coast of the South Island in New Zealand. From the highest mountains, largest glaciers, rainforests, dramatic beaches and much, much more. See these two videos for more ideas of what you might expect to experience here.