Folks all the time ask me what my favourite place on the earth to journey to is, and I all the time give totally different solutions. I play quick and free with the time period “favourite,” if I’m being sincere right here. I’ve lots of favorites. So may you cease asking me to decide on?
However in terms of New Zealand, the wild West Coast of the South Island will all the time have my coronary heart. Right here you will have unbelievable coastlines, big mountains, historical forests, bizarre birds, and no folks. It’s every little thing I’ve ever needed! I’m certain it’s the place I’ll find yourself dwelling sooner or later.
A 3-hour drive north of Wanaka will carry you to Fox Glacier, my-go to West Coast spot. Glacier County is essentially the most dynamic and spectacular stretch of the west coast. Right here you will have two of essentially the most uncommon glaciers on the earth, Fox and Franz Josef, which stretch down from the again of mighty Aoraki/Mt. Prepare dinner to the temperate rainforest beneath. Two lovely rivers of ice, these glaciers are simply unbelievable.
Residence to the bigger city of Franz Josef and the smaller city of Fox, I all the time keep in Fox as a result of it has a extra relaxed, native really feel, with lots of issues to do close by. I’m additionally good buddies with many superb locals right here, who’ve all the time taken care of me. Even after my breakup, I got here right here for a couple of weeks to get well. Fox heals.
From Ōkārito to Fox Glacier might be probably the greatest stretches of coast I’ve ever come throughout. It’s uncommon to see big mountains so near the ocean.
Additionally, I don’t find out about you guys, however even after ten years in New Zealand, I LOVE it when kiwis say the phrase “glacier.” It sounds so posh to us yanks. Glas-ee-uh. Like “classier” however with a “g” and, nicely, with much more class too.
Certain, I may need gone full native with my flippant use of phrases like “bin” and “garbage.” Now I bandy about phrases like “storage” and “Nissan” like a real South Islander, and I say “wee” means too typically. However even I, with all my bravado, have but to say “glacier” like a neighborhood, although I spend a superb period of time on glaciers. I simply don’t suppose I can pull it off.
I’m so proud that you simply’ve adopted this unbelievable stream-of-consciousness caption. Thanks. And if you end up in New Zealand, be sure you go to certainly one of our 3,000 quickly-dwindling “GLAS-EE-UHS,” particularly Fox Glacier, which is each my favourite and most simply accessible over on the west coast. Over and out MAH DAH-LINGS. (I swear I’m completed being posh now); somebody cease me.
To go to Fox Glacier whereas in your subsequent New Zealand journey is assured to please and shock. Listed below are my must-do’s for an journey right here.
1. Go for a heli-hike on Fox Glacier
It’s no secret – I’ve been a fan of Fox Glacier just about since I moved to Wanaka. Peaceable but serene, the city of Fox sits between the unbelievable Fox Glacier/Te Moeka o Tuawe and the Tasman Sea.
Right here you will have certainly one of New Zealand’s most spectacular glaciers as one of the simply accessed glaciers on the earth, which descends 13 kilometers right down to 300 meters above sea stage. Way back to the 1890’s Fox Glacier has been highlighted as a serious vacationer attraction, with the primary guided glacier journeys starting in 1928.
These days, we primarily entry the glacier by helicopter (glaciers transfer rather a lot making their entry difficult). Fox Glacier Guides is likely one of the OG tourism companies on the South Island; their iconic heli-hikes on Fox Glacier are certainly one of my must-dos on any journey to New Zealand. No expertise is required, they usually offer you all of the gear you want.
Simply the helicopter flight as much as the glacier is value it by itself. Then you definately spend a couple of hours exploring the ice with a information, testing caves, views, tunnels, and crevasses. It’s so unbelievable; the place else on the earth are you able to do that? Go to Fox Glacier for an unforgettable journey.
2. Go to Lake Matheson at dawn
Stillness and serenity are two issues I’m all the time looking for in our busy world, but so typically past my attain. Besides, in fact, after I’m on New Zealand’s West Coast, the place you could find each in abundance.
I take a look at the images from Lake Matheson and am instantly transported again to this lovely place. I can scent the damp earthy air, really feel the nippiness creep via my garments, and listen to the quiet birdsong because the day begins. Completely nonetheless and peaceable, I’ve this wildly common place all to myself.
On a transparent, nonetheless day, you get uninterrupted views of Aoraki / Mt. Prepare dinner, New Zealand’s tallest mountain, reflecting within the lake. To go to Fox Glacier and skip this simple stroll can be remiss.
3. Seek for the uncommon kōtuku/white heron in Ōkārito
An iconic seashore and lagoon, Ōkārito is New Zealand’s largest unmodified wetland and residential to some excellent uncommon birds. 45 minutes from Fox Glacier, Ōkārito was as soon as a bustling port city. Now it’s residence to principally birds, together with the uncommon kōtuku/white heron.
Should you love wildlife, you might want to be certain that to join a morning journey to the well-known lagoon with Okarito Eco Boat Excursions. It’s the easiest way to expertise the wetlands and their unbelievable nature. Over 3,000 hectares, Ōkārito is likely one of the greatest wetlands you may go to in New Zealand. You see a lot on the water, from birds that stay and feed in contemporary and saltwater environments to wading birds and among the rarest creatures within the nation.
The kōtuku was nearly hunted to extinction, with solely 4 nests left by 1941. Thought of considerably steady, there are actually round 100 to 120 birds left.
4. Keep on the Rainforest Motel and dine at Betsey Jane
All the pieces about Fox Glacier makes you are feeling welcome. Very a lot a small city with a homey vibe, Fox has loads of spots to hold up your boots and relax with buddies.
My go-to lodging is the Rainforest Motel, owned by a neighborhood household who’s fantastic. Cozy and with every little thing you want, you may stroll all over the place from right here. Betsey Jane is a brand new restaurant close by the place I all the time find yourself for dinner.
5. Watch the sundown on Gillespies Seaside
It’s exhausting to think about that 150 years in the past, in the course of the Gold Rush, Gillespies Seaside was residence to eleven shops. These days, it’s an extended, black sand seashore residence to some seals.
Twenty kilometers west down a gravel highway leads you to Gillespies Seaside. The right place to look at the sundown, it’s certainly one of my fave spots to go for a wander after I’m in Fox. Even in winter, it’s superb to go to Fox Glacier
When you can’t see a lot of Fox Glacier itself from the middle of city, the additional you drive out of city in direction of Lake Matheson and Gillespies Seaside, the higher views you get of the Southern Alps.
6. Preserve an eye fixed out for kea
I’ll by no means not love the kea – New Zealand’s naughtiest fowl.
Our uncommon alpine parrot, the kea often are solely discovered up within the mountains and at greater elevations. Nonetheless, Fox Glacier is likely one of the solely cities the place kea descend to. Chaos often ensues. In Fox, locals have discovered to lock their garbage bins and retailer issues away from the place kea can destroy them. Hunted close to to extinction a century in the past due to their harmful nature, their inhabitants is simply beginning to develop again.
Often, friends on the heli-hikes will see kea flying across the glaciers, sometimes even touchdown on the ice. Lovely but cheeky, be certain that your backpacks are zipped, and your issues are hidden away when kea are about. I’ve seen them throw tramping boots off a cliff. Don’t feed them.
7. Discover the traditional rainforest round Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier sits throughout the Westland Tai Poutini Nationwide Park. Overlaying 1,320 sq. kilometers, it’s certainly one of my favourite nationwide parks in New Zealand. Extra than simply huge mountains and delightful glaciers, the park encompasses a few of New Zealand’s final preserved native temperate rainforest.
One walks into the bush in Fox will make you are feeling such as you stepped proper into Jurassic Park.
The valley round Fox Glacier is superb, residence to historical podocarp rainforest. You may stroll up the south facet of the valley to get a glimpse of the glacier in addition to New Zealand’s largest energetic landslide, Alpine Gardens, which has destroyed the outdated north facet highway, and stroll to the glacier face. It’s a superb reminder of how energetic nature could be and the way little we are able to management it.
You can even go up on a guided e-bike and hike journey with Fox Glacier Guides to get the total scoop on the realm, testing secret spots.
8. Go to the kiwi sanctuary in Franz Josef
The rowi and the Haast tokoeka are the 2 most endangered kiwi on the earth; with lower than 600 of every fowl remaining, you may solely discover them on this one nook of the West Coast. Rowi are solely discovered round Ōkārito, whereas the tokoeka kiwi are discovered solely round Haast.
The West Coast Wildlife Middle runs in collaboration with DOC, and you’ll go to and see a few of these kiwi up shut and private on the heart or on certainly one of their backstage excursions. The biggest kiwi hatching facility on the South Island, they work on conservation round these uncommon kiwi.
Within the wild, due to predation, these kiwi are extremely susceptible, with 9 out of 10 chicks not surviving. Conservation employees take away the kiwi eggs from the wild and produce them again to the middle. Right here they hatch safely and are then raised earlier than being launched again to the place they have been discovered as soon as they’re huge and robust sufficient to defend themselves.
9. Carve your personal pounamu
Everybody I’ve met on the coast through the years has been superb, and Jan is not any exception. I’ve recognized her for a very long time, from her days in Franz Josef. Now she runs her personal studio, Te Koha, simply out of city, the place you may carve your personal pounamu/greenstone. I’ve made many pounamu necklaces right here with Jan through the years, most of which I’ve gifted to family members. Whereas most individuals select to carve the enduring inexperienced pounamu, I have a tendency to decide on the gorgeous aotea stone, which is usually a wonderful shade of blue. ‘
Present in colours starting from cloudy mild inexperienced to deep emerald with totally different markings, pounamu was thought of so vital by Māori that the South Island was named after it, Te-Wai-Pounamu that means “the waters of greenstone.” It’s treasured by Māori as a result of it’s sturdy and delightful. It’s additionally an indication of energy or standing, in addition to being thought of sacred.
Of all of the actions within the space, carving pounamu with Jan is usually everybody’s favourite expertise. It’s a wonderful strategy to carry again a chunk of New Zealand residence with you.
It’s by no means been a greater time to go to Fox Glacier. Have you ever been right here earlier than? Is that this the type of place you’d go to? Share!
Many because of West Coast Improvement for internet hosting me in Fox Glacier. Like all the time, I’m preserving it actual. All opinions are my very own, like you can anticipate much less from me!