Franz Josef Glacier

...and this is one. The Franz Joseph Glacier is about 12 km long and together with Fox Glacier and the surrounding area has been designated a World heritage site . The Franz Joseph Glacier was named after the famous Austrian Emperor of the same name in 1865by an Austrian explorer but its Maori name; Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere means the tears of Hinehukatere which is a much more poetic name I feel. It is particularly interesting as it comes from a local ...
...and froze to form the Franz Joseph glacier. The river emerging from the glacier at the end of the Franz Josef today is known as the Waiho River. THE ANTICIPATION One of the highlights of our trip to New Zealand was going to be a helicopter flight up on to the Franz Joseph Glacier. We had been looking forward to this from the time we arrived in New Zealand but the only problem was that if the weather was not good then the helicopters would not fly. ...

catsholiday 08.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef glacier is on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Nowhere else in the world, at this latitude, have glaciers advanced so close to the sea. High snow fall on the tops of the mountains becomes compact and turns to ice, this ice is then forced down the mountain and is what causes the glacier to move. The glacier moves at least 1 metre a day, sometimes up to 5 metres a day! ***Franz Josef town*** Franz Josef is a small town ...
...town. ***Walk on the Franz Josef glacier*** The company I went with was called Glacier Guides and they offer a number of options: Half day trip (80) - 4.5 hours (1.5 hours on ice) ¾ day trip ($100) - 6 hours (3.5-4 hours on ice) Full day trip ($135) - 8 hours (6 hours on ice) Ice climbing - 7-8 hours (5-6 hours on ice) - teaches you how to climb up ice Heli-hike - 3 hours (2 hours on ice) - fly up, land on ice and do 2 hour guided walk) I ...

Allyalcock 03.06.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Franz Josef Glacier

...can find two Ice Glaciers Franz Joseph and Fox Glacier, these are both a site to be seen. These Glaciers are the most accessible in the world so when visiting you would be crazy to miss the chance to get up close and personal. On the way to the Glaciers stop off and see Lake Matheson often called the 'Mirror Lake' it really is amazing to see the snow capped mountains reflected in the shiny waters. Glacier Hikes: One of the best ways to explore ...
...this is not the most exciting prospect for some but if I can do then so can you, different options are available and you can chose between a half day or full day experience. I opted for the half day hike, at first I thought I wouldn't be able to do it but I got talked into it by friends and I am so glad that they did. The half day is 4 and a half hours and the cost includes all of the equipment you require. You chose either the morning or afternoon ...

LIZKEMPO 03.07.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Franz Josef Glacier

The magnificent Franz Josef Glacier is widely regarded as the gem of New Zealand's West Coast Glaciers. Franz Josef Glacier has many tour groups that are able to give you the opportunity to experience the most spectacular glacier environment available to the general public anywhere in the world, offering a range of glacier hiking tours to suit all levels of fitness and ability. Franz Josef Glacier is located on the West cost of New Zealand's south ...
...town at the base of Franz Josef glacier it's a fantastic place very quaint. On my first day there I did a half day walk up the glacier with one of the local guide companies. This was well organised and extremely good fun! The guide I had was enthusiastic and well informed. At the start or the day we met at their HQ and were given a set of equipment which included a water proof coat, and some spikes which were strapped onto the bottoms of our shoes ...

oliridg 23.03.2007 (27.03.2007) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef is just amazing..the town is so relaxed & welcoming and the backdrop of the glacier is so beautiful! My sister & I did the Heli-Hike activity; we flew up the glacier (higher than you would go on the full day trek!) then we walked around on the ice for 2 hours before flying back down to the ground. This was one of the best activities I did in NZ..so different to anything else! We climbed through ice caves & saw some beautiful natural ice ...
...are amazing! We went to Franz Josef as part of the Kiwi-Experience, but if you have a camper van/car it's just as easy to get to..you can stay in the town & take good photos of the glacier without even doing an activity. I'd definately recommend visiting this place, it really is one of the extremes of scenery that makes New Zealand so picturesque ...

therese7 11.09.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Franz Josef Glacier