Fox Glacier Things to Do

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Lake Matheson is a short drive from Fox Glacier township.

There is a car park just outside the Lake Matheson Cafe.

At the entrance of the Lake Matheson is a donation box where donations are collected to fund the maintenance of the walking track and facilities. Please make some donations as there is no entrance fee charged.

There is a swinging bridge that leads to the walking track into the rainforest.

There are clear signboards to point you the directions and how long it will take you to reach the viewing points.

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We hired Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Heliservices New Zealand for our helicopter ride.

We took the Hughes 550c Named VT with our pilot Gozen on 6 Dec 2005.

Some statistics of the helicopter:

Power Plant : One Allison 250 C20
Turbine Engine: 284kw/380hp
Max take off weight: 1160kg/2550lbs
Max speed: 240kph/130knts
Max height: 4500/15000ft

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We hired Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Heliservices New Zealand for our helicopter ride.

We took the route which was only available from Fox Glacier. We explored the Fox Glacier & then fly by the sheer west faces of Mt Cook & Mt Tasman.

$225 for 20 mins with a snowlanding of 10 mins.

It was a great flying experience with them.
We brought the souvenier photo for $20.

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Lake Matheson is an easy drive from Fox Glacier township.

The beautiful Lake Matheson is an icon of the West Coast with its charming reflections of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman which is New Zealand's highest peaks.

The walk to the Secretary Island takes about an hour. This scenic bush track walk follows the lake edge.

You could take the enchanting mirror image at the beginning of the track at the viewing platform.

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What a peaceful sight.

I had this jaw dropped feeling as this is the 1st time I am on top of a glacier admiring the serenity and the peace of this awesome glacier. I fell like I could touch the sky.

Glad I did choose the chance of snow landing vs long flights. After a while of flying the sights will almost be the same. But with the snow landing experience and we are able to fly close to the face of the mountain the $ was well spent.

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We hired Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Heliservices New Zealand for our helicopter ride. The price was $225 for 20 mins with a snowlanding of 10 mins.

We landed on Mt Cook & Mt Tasman Neve. It was a very "high" experience for me and I just started to pose in front of the camera.

The snow were so white and every step taken was difficult because it was calf high.
It is not as cold as I think but you must wear waterproof shoes else your feet may get freeze bite.

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Fox Glacier is named after one of New Zealand Prime Minister, William Fox.

Fox Glacier is at a latitude of 44 degrees south and in a mild climate, no other glaciers in the world are as easily accessible as Fox Glacier.

The terminal face is just 5 kms from the township.

Walks ranges from 20 mins to 8 hours. Do take an easy 1 hour walk to the glacier terminal ice. Your trip will be a rewarding one.

No pain no gain so perserve on and dont give up halfway.

Pls refer to the map and select your preferred walks from Fox Glacier:

A Minnehaha Walk – An easy 20 mins return from village through the rainforest.

B Moraine Walk – A 40 mins return walk over old moraine surfaces through to native bush.

C River Walk - 40 min return. Connects the north and south bank roads. The track was an early route onto the glacier and crosses an historic swing bridge.

D Fox Glacier Valley Walk - 1 hour return. Walk up the riverbed to the terminal ice face of the glacier. Please heed all signs and barriers.

E Chalet Lookout Walk - 1 hr 30 min return. Crossing mountain streams, the track leads to an historic viewpoint of the Fox Glacier.

F Mount Fox Track – 8 hours return. Steep climb to alpine grasslands for view of alps, glacier and coastline. Marked route. 10 mins from village.

G Lake Matheson Walk - 1 hr 30 min return. An excellent walk providing unsurpassed reflective views of Aoraki/Mt Cook, Mt Tasman and the forested lakeshore.

H Peak View Point – 10 km from Fox Village. One of the best viewpoints in the area of the Fox Glacier and Southern Alps.

I Seal Colony Walk – Gillespies Beach – 21 km drive from Fox Village. 3 hour 30 mins walk from Gillespies Beach to the seal colony at Galway Beach.

J Copland Track/Welcome Flat - 6-8 hours one way. A popular overnight tramp which gives a glimpse of Westland's unique forest and mountain scenery. Natural hotpools at Welcome Flat are an added attraction.