Glacier Country Hikes
Franz Josef and the surrounding area offers an incredibly diverse and stunning range of hikes for all fitness levels and abilities. Go deep into New Zealand's temperate rainforest or stay close to town, either way, you will experience beauty in its most untouched and pure form. Choose the track that is right for you, will you go high into the alpine gardens, the blue ice caves and the glaciers? Or stay low and wander the paths under the rainforest canopy to peaceful natural water features that showcase mountain reflections such as Lake Matheson, Lake Wombat and Peters Pool.
Keep your eyes peeled for New Zealand's native bird species! You will probably hear them before you see them.
Glacier Country's unique natural environment is one of the only places on the planet where there are no dangerous animals or insects in the bush that will sting, bite or severely harm you.
Franz Josef Hikes
All of these hikes start within a 10km radius of Ribbonwood Retreat.
Te Ara a Waiau Cycleway & Douglas WalkDistance: 4 km return on the track Duration: 1 hour cycle, 2 hours walk Level: Easy Combining the Cycle way and the Douglas Walk offers the opportunity to choose your discipline! Will you opt to hike or bike? Or both? Personally, this is one of our favourite rides in Glacier Country taking you up the Glacier Valley. For a well rounded experience, we recommend biking up to the Glacier Valley Carpark via the stunning wide and well maintained mountain bike trail that meanders and weaves gently under the rainforest canopy with stunning moss covered features, bridges that cross crystal clear mountain streams and giant native trees with pockets of light filtering through. At the end of this section of the track, there is a bike rack where you can abandon the bike, put jogging or walking shoes on and complete the 4 km loop which passes Peters Pool - known for its ever changing moods and moods and often picture perfect reflections of the glacier and dramatic, towering mountains which border the valley. Peters Pool was created by the retreating glacier which dropped a chunk of melted ice that formed into a kettle lake about 1800 AD. Read more here. |
Franz Josef Glacier Valley WalkDistance: 3 km return on the track Duration: 30 minutes hours return Level: Easy The Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk offers and easy stroll through the rainforest to a river bank view point of the glacier. Wander through lush rainforest, and over small creeks until you are up and alongside the mighty Waiho River looking up the valley. The track is currently cut short to just a 30-minute return walk due to a flood which washed out the upper part of the track. The glacier is constantly moving with the ice and rock falling from the terminal face. Walking access to view the glaciers has remained problematical, caused by storm events and river erosion of the valley floor. On your return you may wish to take a right at the junction and complete the short and steep climb on a well maintained trail up to Sentinal Rock which offers a vantage view point of the glacier. Read more here. |
Lake Wombat Walk Distance: 3.8 km return on the track Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Level: Easy This short, easy walk leads through a lush rimu forest to the idyllic Lake Wombat. You will find the carpark for this trail on your right as you drive up the glacier valley (about half way up the valley). It offers a wide and well maintained fern-lined trail that undulates, meanders and climbs steadily to likely one of the most peaceful lakes you have ever seen. Termed a kettle lake, Lake Wombat was formed by the melting of a huge piece of ice left amidst glacial debris about 9000 years ago. This walk offers good opportunities for bird watching, especially at the lake itself, where the bird song is often out of this world. On a calm day you will also experience sensational mirror-lake reflections of the towering surrounding rainforest and a big old tree stump, over time has been worn down to offer the perfect little seat to take in the vistas and energy of this magical setting. Read more here. |
Roberts Point TrackDistance:11-12.3km return Duration: 5 hours, 20 minutes return Level: Challenging, good fitness required Roberts Point Track hike currently offers the best and closest views of Franz Josef Glacier by foot. The view point offers a platform and picnic table, so we recommend a packed lunch! This trail offers great diversity, starting off with an easy, well maintained trail through the rainforest then over a swing bridge which crosses the Waiho River. From this point you will notice the track becomes slightly more technical but the reward is fascinating historical features along the way along way, a floating staircase, waterfalls and one of New Zealand's longest swing bridges! We recommend starting out early so you don't get caught out by that afternoon cloud and weather which often rolls in close to the mountains. If it rains, the track can become rather slippery which results in slow progress. Marvel on the guiding pioneers who shaped this track long ago. Read more about Roberts Point Track |
Alex Knob
Distance:17.2 km return Duration: 8 hours or more return Level: Challenging, good fitness required Climbing Alex Knob rewards trampers with spectacular alpine vantage views of Franz Josef Glacier. This is not a stroll in the park though, it will take eight hours with a steady uphill climb of over 1000m in altitude gain. This is a tramping track with rough terrain so you will need to be prepared climb over windfalls and watch out for obstacles (I have been known to forget to look upward and banged my head on branches jutting out.) The track zig zags endlessly on, but the thick forest and bird life make for good reason to stop and take rests. The view from the top is sensational, we recommend leaving as early in morning as you can to beat the afternoon cloud that may roll in and cover the glacier. Read more about Alex Knob Track. |
Ōkārito Trig WalkDistance: 4.2 km return on the track Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Level: Easy This walk offers an extension but if time is short, a trip to the Okarito Trig and back can reward visitors with panoramic views of the Southern Alps on a clear day. The track crosses a small wetland on a curvaceous boardwalk above rippling swathes of oioi, the endemic New Zealand jointed wire rush. The track climbs up to a viewing platform overlooking the lagoons and south Ōkārito forest, home of the New Zealands rare kiwi species known as Rowi. We think that it is well worth the hike to the top for such a grand view! If time allows, the Ōkārito Coastal Walk is a wonderful 3 hour 30 minute tide dependant easy walk (distance: 9.8 km). Read more about Hidden Trails of the Glacier Region - Okarito |
