
Save your breakfast and head down to the Salmon Café, located 85 km south of Franz Josef.

However, you can check New Zealand’s Department of Conservation website for more details. The walk, which takes about one hour total, will lead you to the base of Fox Glacier.ĭuring our visit to the West Coast, the road was closed due to weather. This is a 2.6 kilometer round-trip hiking trail. You can opt for either a two hour entry, or a multiple entry day-pass.įurther down the coast is the Fox Glacier Valley Track. There’s no better way to relax than to soak away in a hot pool. When you are finished hiking and legs are worn out, head over to the Franz Josef Glacier pools. Another popular short walk is the Blue Pools which with an amazing view of the Franz Josef Glacier reflected in the lake. If you walk quickly you can fit a few hiking trails in the one day. I suggest doing the 5.4km Franz Josef Glacier walk the day before you continue on to Wanaka, otherwise, you will not complete everything in time. It is most popular for the Franz Josef Glacier and numerous other hiking trails.

This is one epic road trip we are about to embark on.įranz Josef is a medium sized town located on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Here on the road from Franz Josef to Wanaka they couldn’t have been more accurate.įollow this plan and the road from Franz Josef to Wanaka, and instead of three hours you will have a twelve hour day on the road So wake up early, and be prepared to go to bed late. They say drive slow, New Zealand roads are different. I can assure you Google is wrong this time. Google “Franz Josef to Wanaka” and you will see this 285 kilometer drive takes approximately three and a half hours. Then there is the road itself, a winding mountain pass with panoramic views, turn scenic ocean drive. This road pretty much has all the stops you need to see the world in a day. That is a bold claim, but wait for it!įrom snowcapped peaks and ancient glaciers on Mount Cook to sandy beaches, incredibly blue rivers, towering waterfalls, and mega-lakes.

The road from Franz Josef to Wanaka covers the most diverse set of landscapes you will see in New Zealand, and perhaps in the whole world. Driving Franz Josef to Wanaka (Haast Pass), New Zealand
