Franz Josef

Table of Contents: Travel to Franz Josef, visa requirements By car Buses to Franz Josef By air / Get around / Franz Josef attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Visit the Glacier / Whitewater Rafting / Shopping, Franz Josef souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Franz Josef nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Get out More from Westland (New Zealand): Franz Josef, Greymouth More from West Coast %28New Zealand%29: Fox Glacier, Haast, Hokitika, Punakaiki, Westland (New Zealand)

Franz Josef is a tourist destination. Its prime reason for being is to serve tourists visiting the Franz Josef Glacier. Located in Westland it lies at the foot of the western slopes of Mount Cook and is in the middle of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

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Travel to Franz Josef, visa requirements

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By car

• It is about a three hour trip from Greymouth.
• Its about a four and a half hour trip from Wanaka.

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Buses to Franz Josef

Tour buses generally make Franz Josef one of their stops, either for the night or at least a lunch break.

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By air

Frans Josef Airport is really only suitable for light aircraft. Mind you, Mount Cook Airport is just on the other of the mountains, and a scenic flightseeing trip can often be arranged at short notice.

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Get around

While you can take your car to the car park at the foot of the glacier, you will need to get out and walk to the terminal face, as the Glacier is receding at present. There are a number of walking tracks in the glacier valley. Please take heed of the warning signs as you get close to the glacier terminal face.

If you prefer to do things the easy way, try flightseeing, either in a plane or helicopter.

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Franz Josef attractions and sightseeing

• Franz Josef Glacier

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City tours

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Visit the Glacier

• • Take an unguided trip.
  • Take a guided trip.
  • Take a helicopter flight.

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Whitewater Rafting

• Whataroa & Perth Rivers. 20 minutes north of Franz Josef are two of the best one-day whitewater rafting runs anywhere on the planet. Total wilderness experience, awesome Class IV & V rapids, and stunning scenery. Accessible by helicopter only. Rivers Wild [1] 0800-GO-WILD (in NZ) or +64-21-748-371 (overseas)

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Shopping, Franz Josef souvenirs

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Good restaurants and cheap meals

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Franz Josef nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

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Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

Sleep at the high quality Franz Josef YHA Youth Hostel. Cheap, good, looks great, great views. Also has a stone fireplace. See info at the NZ YHA site: http://www.yha.org.nz/ Recommended.

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Get out

Just down the road is Fox Glacier. The Fox Glacier is the biggest of the West Coast glaciers and more accessible of the two.The Fox Glacier is also currently advancing.

More from Westland (New Zealand): Franz Josef, Greymouth More from West Coast %28New Zealand%29: Fox Glacier, Haast, Hokitika, Punakaiki, Westland (New Zealand)

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