1. Franz Josef Glacier

2. What is a glacier?
A glacier is simply the remaining winter snow that summer melt has been unable to remove from the cooler heights up on the mountains. Each year another layer of this surplus snow is added to the glacier. Time and its own weight soon transforms the residual snow layers into ice, which oozes its way down valley to be melted away in the warmer temperatures of lower altitudes. The glacier finally terminates where melt rates exactly equal the ice supply. That is a glacier.

3. Where is the glacier? West central coast of the southern island
Close to the coastline

4. How was this glacier formed?
Pacific and Australian plates form the Southern Alps
Over this area, large amounts of rain and snow fall
The eventual result are the glaciers

5. What’s the weather like?
Average rainfall is 4700mm falling on about 178 rain days.
However, there are many clear, sunny days - an average of 1860 sunshine hours annually
Late summer and midwinter are particularly noted for milder than average South Island temperatures and high sunshine hours.
Average Temperatures
Summer days degrees Celcius Winter days 2-12 degrees Celcius
Daylight hours Longest day 5.30am pm Shortest day 7.30am pm

6. Touring History William Batson opens guesthouse in Franz Josef in 1900
Peter Graham takes his first trip on the glacier in 1903, which led to him and his brother becoming the dominant guides of their era
The Graham brothers purchase the hotel off Batson in 1911, and glacier tours become a major tourism industry

7. What are some tour options?
Half day glacier tour
This is a 4.5 hour trip
1.5 to 2 hours are spent on the glacier
3/4 day glacier tour
This is a 6 hour trip
3.5 to 4 hours are spent on the glacier
Full day glacier tour
This is an 8 hour trip
6 hours of this trip are spent on the glacier

8. What are the price ranges?
Half day trip
$80 per person
¾ day trip
$110 per person
Full day trip
$135 per person

9. What does this cost include?
Ice Talonz boot grips
Talonz boots
Gore-Tex rain jackets
100% wool socks, thermal gloves and hats
Walking axes and trekking poles
Free glacier guide book

10. This information is from Franz Josef Glacier Guides
This information is from Franz Josef Glacier Guides. For more information, visit their site at