New Zealand's Glaciers | Budget Bucket List

Franz Josef / Fox Glacier

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I expected to find something better.

I admit, I didn’t give the Fox- and Franz Josef glacier a head start, as I’m spoilt with Patagonian sensations such as Glacier Grey and the jaw-dropper called Perito Moreno.

I know. Hard to top that. Especially if you’re mostly melted away. The Fox Glacier is still there, although to be admired from a considerable distance (unless you opt for a pricey heli-hike). Franz Josef, however, is downsized to not even a fraction of its glory days:

Yet, tourism still thrives around them. Even though Dan - the amicable British metalhead that picked me up at the roadside with his rental car - and I arrived in absolute low season, I was told summer transforms this 4-street-village into Camperland, the tiny township bursting at the seams with a few extra zeros behind its official inhabitants-quota.

Also my Couchsurfing host, let’s call him Hank for now, financially survives on the income made by taking up glacier-chasers by helicopter and guiding them over the icy peaks. When work’s slow he turns to other diversions however, like bringing females home to orally guide them to exceptionally loud, moaning climaxes three times a night, to give an example. It’s worth mentioning his house is one space only, me lying at arm’s-length of the whole midnight event. Interesting perception of a cultural exchange. Awkward doesn’t even start to describe it. Sometimes, free travel comes at a price.

With the will to explore but hardly any sleeping-hours on my score I nevertheless joined Dan on one of the bush-bush trails swirling through the forested area. We settled with Robert’s Point Track, which according to the information board basically equals signing a deal with death.

I know, right. Passive aggressive doesn’t quite cover it. I’m surprised they didn’t just hang the three bodies dangling at the trail entrance.

True, it’s not your family friendly Sunday-afternoon-stroll and doesn’t even slightly approach the easiness of the well-marketed ‘New Zealand Great Walks’... but it’s certainly not undoable either. Clearly signposted, conveniently linked with adventurous walking bridges and full of interesting scenery, this trail is strongly recommended to any hiking aficionado. An interesting backwoods walk with a lot of clambering and scrambling involved, afterwards you’ll truly feel you did something. And as a bonus, the track ends at a comfy viewing platform providing close-up looks to the almost-vanished highlight.

Have a look before it’s too late!

Never mind, it already is.

Find all other hikes around the Fox- and Franz Josef Glaciers in this brochure:

Glacier Region Walks Brochure
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