Fox Glacier South Side Walk

Fox Glacier South Side Walk

Fox Glacier South Side Walk
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Track length: 6 km return via same track. Suggested duration: 2 hours return along a easy walking track. Getting there Drive south on state highway 6 from the Fox Glacier Weheka township, cross the Fox River Bridge and park on the right hand side of the road heading south. Carefully cross the road on foot to where the track begins. Track Description: The Fox Glacier South Side Walk follows the south bank of the Fox River through ancient podocarp rainforest. The track becomes narrower for a time and crosses ancient glacial moraine surfaces. This section of track reveals how quickly plants establish here, and how the age of the forest reflects the various ages of the glacier moraines which it has colonised. The first viewpoint of the glacier is soon reached, before continuing up valley. The track passes through an old car park and then winds gently downhill through the rainforest to a view point of Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tuawe. Do not go past this point due to extreme flood hazard
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles807 reviews
Excellent
331
Very good
293
Average
144
Poor
27
Terrible
12

ShirishParanjape
Christchurch, New Zealand885 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
This is a nice walk from the car park to the glacier viewing point, about 2 hours return to and from the viewing point.

The walkway is very broad, because it can be used by walkers and cyclists both.

One can continue the walk even further- which we didn’t do.

I very highly recommend taking the Moraine Walk either one or both ways. The Moraine walk is like no other - one feels like being in Jurassic age. The Moraine walk is for walkers only, not for cyclists or wheelchairs. This walk has points where the glacier once was!

There are no toilets- one has to return to Fox Glacier township, although the August 2019 maps (by Glacier Country) being distributed even in Jan 2024 do show toilets here.
Written 13 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

keyoorpatel
Blacktown, Australia20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Family
The Fox Glacier South Side Walk was an awe-inspiring experience that left me in awe of the beauty of nature. The trail was well-maintained, and the views were simply breathtaking. As I made my way along the path, I was surrounded by towering mountains, lush rainforests, and the stunning Fox Glacier itself. The sound of trickling water and the sight of sparkling ice formations were mesmerizing. The highlight of the walk was reaching the viewing area, where I was able to witness the glacier up close, with its icy blue hues and intricate crevasses. The sheer magnitude and grandeur of the glacier were truly humbling. The walk was a moderate level of difficulty, but the stunning scenery made it all worth it. I would highly recommend the Fox Glacier South Side Walk to any nature lover or hiking enthusiast looking for an unforgettable adventure amidst the pristine wilderness of New Zealand's South Island.
Written 19 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen & Sue
Canberra, Australia2,488 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
Like its neighbour Franz Josef, Fox Glacier has retreated so far in recent years it can now only be seen from a distance, after a walk to a lookout.
The Franz Josef walk is much shorter, but the Fox Glacier walk is a lovely 1-2 hour return, which can also be done by bike.
After parking just beyond the bridge you follow a 4 wheel drive track along the river and then up the hill. It soon gets into the rainforest, with frequent views of the river alongside.
The lookout is a hole cut through the forest, 2-3 klms away, which gives you a nice, if distant look at the glacier.
On the walk back make sure you take the short diversion into the Moraine walk, which loops back on to the main track. The rainforest in here is dense, and stunning. Ferns, moss, trees, it’s a wonderful little walk.
However this is not open to bikes, and not suitable for anyone with mobility issues as it’s quite rough.
And ignore Google maps – there is no longer any access from the northside and no other bridge across the river - it’s all been washed away in the massive flood of a few years back.
Written 12 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jost-Pauline S
Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand391 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Lovely walk through native forest with moderate gradient to a great viewpoint of the Fox Glacier. Take the side walk offered through the Glacier moraines - it had a quite special touch to it and will not take any longer.
Written 12 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kiwisflythecoop
Te Anau, New Zealand779 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Another great track in Westland. We cycled the trail starting at Fox township so there is a bit of road to travel. We parked our bikes in the old car park at the end and walked down for the views. Since we were here many years ago the glacier has definitely receded.

If walking, the car park is on the South Side of the main road bridge.
Written 7 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mark
Whakatāne, New Zealand1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • Couples
Easy walk, great well kept tracks, view point restricted back. Make sure you drive to viewing point by lake Matheson, amazing view there. From the walking trail you maybe a few kms back from face but you dont see it as well as from the glacier view point you drive to just pass lake Matheson, we were so surprised how big it looked from there, if you strike minimal cloud its amazing with mt cook and mt tasman beside the huge glacier
Written 17 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chris
Orewa, New Zealand5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
Lovely forest walk to see distant glacier views. The highlight was taking the Moraine (?) Path on the way back. It's a little narrower but much more interesting. My teens said it was like walking in an enchanted forest. So green, mossy and beautiful.
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tambonz
Waipu, New Zealand888 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021 • Couples
The walk is long.... When you do get to the scenic View... Its very small through the trees and a loooong way off.
Having seen the glacier 30 years ago and walked under it and over it... This was a disappointing trip to be quite frank.
Written 19 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NelsonNZ
Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand93 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020
The time listed on the sign at the car-park is accurate. It took us about two hours to complete the walk, this included time spent taking photos etc. The walk is 5km return and is a gentle walk uphill the majority of the way up there. Just take it slow and enjoy the wonderful rain forest, the ferns are just amazing, even though I have seen a lot of them being from NZ. The last 200 metres or so up to the glacier view point is a bit steeper but not too bad. You cannot see the glacier from the car-park just over the bridge,

Unfortuntaly you are still a long way from the glacier but do get a nice view. If you carry on another 900 metres or so down to the river view, you will be slightly closer, with a slightly different view.

The walk back is a lot easier majority downhill. The only downside is that the toilet at the top car-park (yes once you could drive up but not any more) was closed, probably due to Covid. A great way to spend a couple of hours. I am 67 and was able to handle the walk okay.
Written 5 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathy
573 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We took the South Side Walk to the Glacier Viewpoint (5 km) because the much shorter Fox Glacier Valley Walk (2.6 km) was closed due to a rock slide. Getting to the Glacier Viewpoint was an easy walk through the rainforest, with dense, beautiful vegetation bordering the trail. (The Fox Glacier is one of the only glaciers in the world that penetrates a temperate rainforest.) We reached the Viewpoint after an hour of hiking, and quite frankly, the view there wasn't much different than the view from the parking lot...awe inspiring, but very distant.
Written 29 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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FOX GLACIER SOUTH SIDE WALK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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