15 Best Stops on the Drive from Wanaka to Franz Josef

  1. Lake Hawea. Lake Hawea is beautiful! …
  2. Lake Wanaka Lookout (just after u201cThe Necku201d) This is one windy road and the views of the lake are magnificent! …
  3. The Blue Pools. …
  4. Haast Pass Lookout. …
  5. Fantail Falls. …
  6. Thunder Creek Falls. …
  7. Haast River Lookout. …
  8. Roaring Billy Falls.

Thereof What is there to do between Wanaka and Haast? Makarora, at the northern tip of Lake Wanaka, is a launching point for several multi-day walks in Mount Aspiring National Park. A number of shorter walks begin at the highway’s edge between Makarora to Haast. Favourites include walks to the Blue Pools, Fantail Falls, Thunder Creek Falls and Roaring Billy.

Is it better to stay in Greymouth or Hokitika? Personally I would stay at Hokitika, I found it much more enjoyable than Greymouth and there are many more options for dining and accommodation than at Punakaiki.

Similarly, Is Franz Josef or Fox Glacier better?

Fox has a gradual decent, whereas Franz Josef drops steeply from the Southern Alps to near sea-level. The steeper incline forces dramatic movement of ice, making Franz Josef Glacier the fastest commercially guided glacier in the world, with ice moving up to 5m per day!

Is Hokitika worth visiting?

The Hokitika Gorge is one of those places. The vivid turquoise water surrounded by lush native bush looks too good to be true but trust us, it is well worth a visit. The easy West Coast Wilderness Trail and more challenging Blue Spur single tracks near town mean Hokitika is a great place to bring your bike.

How long is the TranzAlpine train trip? Journey highlights

The TranzAlpine is one of the world’s great train journeys covering 223 kilometres (139 miles) one-way, taking just under 5 hours. You’ll traverse the majestic Canterbury Plains, to the backdrop of the mighty Southern Alps – the journey of a lifetime.

Can you fly from Greymouth to Queenstown?

The quickest way to get from Greymouth to Queenstown is to fly which costs $130 – $470 and takes 5h 44m. … The distance between Greymouth and Queenstown is 353 km. The road distance is 523.3 km.

How long is the walk to Fox Glacier? How long will it take? This is a 2.6km one-hour return walk.

Can you walk on Franz Josef Glacier?

The Franz Josef Glacier walk is the best way to view the Franz Josef Glacier without paying for a tour. The walk to the glacier is an easy hike and is around 4km return. The trail is considered a must-do on any South Island itinerary.

Which is bigger Franz Josef or Fox Glacier? – Fox Glacier is the third largest glacier in New Zealand. – It is 12 kilometres long and descends from the same height as Franz Josef Glacier, but is not as steep. – Fox Glacier terminates just 12 kilometres from the Tasman Sea. – The walk from the car park to the terminal face viewpoint takes about 30 minutes.

Is Hokitika a nice place to live? The town itself is humming and has a great seaside vibe.” Joseph says living in Hokitika and the West Coast is all about the quality of life, access to the natural environment and minimal financial pressure. “We are lucky to have clean air, plenty of fresh clean water and a very safe living environment.

Does it snow in Hokitika? If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Hokitika are February, January, and then March. … Weather stations report no annual snow.

What is Hokitika known for?

Founded as a gold mining town back in the gold-rush days, Hokitika is famous for its pounamu (greenstone), whitebait, it’s mining history, and it’s sparsely populated wild scenery.

Do you have to wear a mask on the TranzAlpine?

You must wear your face mask at all times, both inside stations and the train (including the Open-air Viewing carriage). You may remove your face mask while eating or drinking food in your designated seat.

Does the TranzAlpine stop? With its reputation for being a must-do travel experience, the TranzAlpine journey through the South Island stays in the hearts of all its passengers long after they’ve hopped off the train.

Is the TranzAlpine still running? Our TranzAlpine scenic journey runs once a day, with our Christchurch to Greymouth train departing in the morning and our Greymouth to Christchurch train returning in the evening. Our TranzAlpine Christchurch to Greymouth train runs long weekends throughout the summer season.

Where is the stop between Franz Josef and Queenstown?

What are the best places to stop between Queenstown and Franz Josef?

  • Crown Range.
  • Cardrona Hotel.
  • Bradrona.
  • Wanaka.
  • Lake Hawea.
  • Lake Wanaka Lookout.
  • Blue Pools.
  • Haast Pass Lookout.

How long does it take to drive from Greymouth to Fox Glacier? Yes, the driving distance between Greymouth to Fox Glacier is 196 km. It takes approximately 2h 19m to drive from Greymouth to Fox Glacier.

What is there to see between Greymouth and Queenstown?

This field set halfway between Queenstown and Wanaka can often stay open into early spring.

  • Cardrona Ski Field.
  • Queenstown Ice Bars.
  • Cinema Paradiso.
  • Haast Wildlife.
  • Fiordland Crested Penguins.
  • Fox Glacier.
  • Franz Josef Glacier.
  • White Heron Sanctuary Tour.

Why is Fox Glacier closed? The access road to the iconic destination of Fox Glacier/Te Moeka o Tuawe in South Westland will be closed for the indefinite future after an engineering report commissioned by DOC and the New Zealand Transport Agency found it was no longer practical to re-establish road access into the valley.

Can you walk Fox Glacier without guide?

Yes! You can hike the trail to the base of the glacier without a guide.

Can you see Fox Glacier from road? To see the glacier, you can head towards Lake Matheson on Cook Flat Road for magnificent views. You can arrange an ice-hiking adventure or booking a scenic flight. There are glow worm caves just a short walk from the town centre, which offers a good choice of cafes and restaurants.

How do I get Franz Josef Glacier for free?

Franz Josef Glacier walk is an easy 1.5 hour round trip walk to the base of Franz Josef Glacier from the car park. Walk past a waterfall along the wide river stone track, suitable for children. You can’t get that close to the glacier face anymore because it’s receded too far.

Can you walk up to Fox Glacier? It’s a short walk. You can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour one-way along a rocky terrain (remember the ice that falls down the glacier break off large boulders and grind at smaller rocks).

What is New Zealand’s largest glacier?

The largest glacier in New Zealand, the Tasman Glacier, is 27km long and covers an area of 101 square kilometres, sitting below our highest mountain – Mount Cook.

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