Most reviewed
Franz Josef to Queenstown
Small group, one way
- Length12 hours
- Rating4.8 from 26
- Pricefrom $170
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Franz Josef to Queenstown, Christchurch and back
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What the road costs your party
Type your party size and compare four ways to cover the distance
- To QueenstownOne-way tour · starts at, per person $170
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View - From QueenstownOne-way tour · starts at, per person $170
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View - From ChristchurchVia Hokitika · starts at, per person $170
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View - With TranzAlpineRail and road · starts at, per person $332
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There is one road, one nearby airport and a few ways to arrive. This page gives the driving times, the flight and rail options and the coach tours, so you can plan a sensible route.
Editorial team, franzjosefquadbiking.com · Updated November 6, 2026 · Read in 7 min
In brief
- QueenstownThe drive is 351 km and takes 4 hours 40 minutes.1
- ChristchurchThe drive is 382 km and takes 5 hours.2
- HokitikaThe nearest airport is 135 km, 1 hour 43 minutes by car.3,4
- By coachA small-group tour from Queenstown is listed from $170.
- The roadThe only road access is State Highway 6, north or south.5
Choosing your route into Glacier Country
The regional tourism group says driving is the number one way to reach Glacier Country, whether by bus or by self-drive.6 There is one road in: State Highway 6, either from Hokitika in the north, about one and a half hours from the park, or from the south via Haast, about two hours away.5 That shapes every plan. You arrive from one side and leave from the other, or you retrace your route.
The closest airports are Hokitika, Queenstown and Christchurch.7 Hokitika is the closest commercial airport and has daily flights from Christchurch.4 Queenstown and Christchurch are far larger gateways, but they are a long way from the glacier, so a rental car or a coach tour is a sensible answer for the last leg. Build in a few stops along the way, since the road itself is part of the trip.
Think of the trip as a line along the coast. Fox Glacier to Franz Josef Glacier is 24 km, a 24 minute drive, so the neighboring villages work well as a pair.8 To the south the road climbs toward Wanaka and Queenstown, and to the north it runs past Hokitika and Greymouth toward Christchurch. Decide where you want to end the trip and plan the direction that avoids doubling back, which saves a day of driving.
Routes compared
Drive time and distance from each starting point
| From | Drive time | Distance | How to go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Glacier | 24 minutes8 | 24 km8 | Drive or shuttle |
| Hokitika | 1 hour 43 minutes3 | 135 km3 | Flight, then car |
| Greymouth | 2 hours 12 minutes11 | 173 km11 | Rail, then car |
| Wanaka | 3 hours 38 minutes9 | 285 km9 | Drive or coach |
| Queenstown | 4 hours 40 minutes1 | 351 km1 | Drive or coach |
| Christchurch | 5 hours2 | 382 km2 | Fly, drive or tour |
Times and distances are the regional tourism group's driving figures; add time for stops and weather.
From Queenstown over the southern road
Franz Josef to Queenstown is 351 km, a drive of 4 hours 40 minutes by the regional group's figures.1 Wanaka lies closer, at 285 km and 3 hours 38 minutes.9 If you are heading the other way, the figures are the same road in reverse. Treat the journey from Queenstown to Franz Josef as a full day with stops, and start early so the last hour is not in the dark.
A coach-style small-group tour covers the same road with a guide. The one-way tour from Queenstown is listed from $170 for a 12-hour day, with stops at Cardrona, Wanaka, Lake Hawea, the Blue Pools, Thunder Creek Falls, Bruce Bay and Lake Matheson. The reverse listing, Franz Josef to Queenstown, is listed from $170, also 12 hours. Both include free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
A cheaper listing from Queenstown runs 8 hours and is listed from $127, with stops at Makarora, Thunder Creek Falls and Haast. It has only 7 reviews, so read the details before you commit. On the southern stretch, Haast has limited cell phone coverage and is the only spot between Fox and Hawea or Wanaka with reception.10 Download your maps before you leave Wanaka, and keep paper as a fallback.
From Christchurch by road, rail or air
Christchurch to Franz Josef is a long day. The drive is 382 km and takes 5 hours by the regional group's figures.2 The van and coach listing from Christchurch via Hokitika is a one-way tour listed from $170 for a full day, with stops at Castle Hill, Arthur's Pass Village and Hokitika. Take it if you want the scenery without the driving, and a rest on the seat.
The TranzAlpine train is the scenic alternative. A listing from Christchurch to Franz Josef includes the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth, then Hokitika and the Hokitika Gorge walk, and is listed from $332 for 12 hours. Check the rail operator's own page before you plan around the train: at the time of writing it says that until 20 November the TranzAlpine runs between Christchurch and Arthur's Pass, with a bus connection to Greymouth while track damage is repaired.13
Flying is the fastest. Air New Zealand operates daily non-stop flights to Hokitika from Christchurch.12 From Hokitika airport, Franz Josef is 135 km, 1 hour 43 minutes by car.3 You will need to arrange a rental car, a shuttle or a transfer, since the airport is not in the village. Pick up your car, buy supplies in Hokitika and enjoy the coast road at an easy pace.
Pick your route
How should you get to Franz Josef?
Pick the line closest to your plans and the answer sits beside it
If I am coming from Queenstown
Drive or take the coach
Queenstown is 351 km and 4 hours 40 minutes by road.1
If I am coming from Christchurch
Fly to Hokitika
The flights from Christchurch are daily and non-stop.12
If I want scenery without driving
Book a one-way tour
A 12-hour small-group tour is listed with free cancellation.
If I want to take the train
Check the TranzAlpine
The rail operator posts a track-repair notice.13
If I only have a few days
Fly in, drive out
Hokitika is the closest commercial airport.4
Three ways to do the long road
One-way tours to or from the glacier
The reverse run
Coming from Queenstown
Small group, one way
- Length12 hours
- Rating4.8 from 19
- Pricefrom $170
Rail and road
Christchurch with the train
Includes the TranzAlpine
- Length12 hours
- Rating4.8 from 20
- Pricefrom $332
From Hokitika, Greymouth and the north
Hokitika is the gateway to the coast road, and a sensible place to collect a car and supplies. Franz Josef to Hokitika is 135 km, 1 hour 43 minutes by car.3 Franz Josef to Greymouth is 173 km, 2 hours 12 minutes.11 The park itself puts the drive from Hokitika at approximately one and a half hours.5 Allow time for photos, as the road is lined with views, and for a stop in Hokitika.
Public transport exists, though it is thin. The Department of Conservation says there are regular bus services along the coast.19 The regional group lists Glacier Shuttles for bus transport in and around Franz Josef Glacier, and Intercity Coachlines for travel around New Zealand.20 Check timetables for the day you want, and book a seat in advance where the operator allows it.
Plan your supplies before the last stretch. Glacier Motors in Franz Josef offers fuel around the clock all year.21,16 A supermarket stands at 24 State Highway 6.22 There is mobile phone coverage in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier villages for all the major providers.23 Dial 111 in an emergency.24 Arriving with a full tank, a charged phone and food for the evening makes a late arrival painless.
Queenstown to the glacier
The southern road by its listed stops
Start
Leave Queenstown early
The coach tour is a 12-hour day with pickups from the town.
Early
Cardrona and Wanaka
Wanaka is 285 km and 3 hours 38 minutes from Franz Josef.9
Next
Lake Hawea and Blue Pools
The tour's listed stops continue after Wanaka.
Midway
Thunder Creek Falls
A stop named in both the 12-hour and 8-hour listings.
Later
Haast, then the coast
Haast has limited phone coverage on this stretch.10
Arrival
Bruce Bay and Lake Matheson
The tour's final stops before the finish.
Coach tours and small-group transfers compared
A one-way tour is useful when you do not want to drive the whole road. Franz Josef to Queenstown is listed with 21 pickup options, a 12-hour day and a rating of 4.8 from 26 reviews. The southbound run shows 26 pickup options and a rating of 4.8 from 19 reviews. Both are small-group tours with a live guide in English.
From Christchurch, you have a choice. The via-Hokitika listing is rated 4.7 from 13 reviews, with a full-day duration and 16 pickup options. The TranzAlpine listing is rated 4.8 from 20 reviews and costs more, since it includes the train. Compare the stops carefully. One goes by road through Arthur's Pass Village, and the other travels by rail to Greymouth.
Whatever you choose, remember that a one-way tour leaves you at the end of the road. If you plan to stay for the glacier, the quad ride, a hot soak and a flight, you need a bed for at least a night. The village has hotels, motels and campervan parks, and the regional list advises booking ahead.25 Use the transfer for the long road and then walk, ride and soak on foot.
Video
Stops on the drive from Wanaka to Franz Josef
Virtual Journeys with Michael Nees on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
The only road access is on SH6, via Hokitika in the north (approximately one and a half hours drive) or from the south via Haast (approximately two hours drive).
Before you drive
Checks for the road to Franz Josef
Bring4
Fuel, signal and a safe drive
The coast road is a national highway through wet country, so treat it with respect and do not hurry it. Weather can change dramatically in a short space of time, and heavy rain can arrive at any time of year, with up to 5 m falling annually.17,26 Slow down in wet conditions, keep your lights on and allow extra time. A long day should include a rest stop every couple of hours.
Check road conditions before you set out, using the New Zealand Transport Agency's official road updates on the day of travel. Remember that flooding can close sections of rural roads after heavy rain, and that a closed road changes the whole day, so ask your host or the visitor centre if in doubt. Carry water, a spare layer and a printed map, since mobile coverage thins between towns.
If you are camping, remember there is no freedom camping in Glacier Country, so book a designated site before the last stretch of the drive.18 The regional group names holiday and campervan parks at Franz Josef.27 For a car, the village has parking and service stations, and the glacier car park charges NZ$2.50 per half hour or NZ$20 a day, paid by card.28,15
How long to plan, and one-way against return
Give the trip enough time. A single day is enough to drive from Queenstown, but not to enjoy the glacier afterwards, so plan to arrive with energy left. The quad ride on this site lasts 2 hours and is listed from $104 per person. Add a walk such as Sentinel Rock, which takes 20 min, and a soak, and you have a pleasant first evening and morning.29
A one-way trip with a hire car is worth considering. Drive in from Queenstown, stay in the village, then leave toward Christchurch via Hokitika, with the TranzAlpine or a flight as options for the last leg.12 That avoids repeating the same road, and it adds another region to your trip. Flights and glacier hikes depend on weather, so keep a spare day for them.
Whatever you plan, check the basics before you set out, and keep a copy of your bookings. Confirm your booking times and the weather forecast, fill your tank, and tell someone your route. The visitor centre at 69 Cron Street opens daily from 8:30am to 5:00pm, except Christmas Day, and is the place to ask about tracks and weather once you arrive.30,31 After a long drive, a first walk to Sentinel Rock is a gentle welcome.29
FAQ
Common questions, answered fast.
How long is the drive from Queenstown?
4 hours 40 minutes.
The regional group gives 351 km for the drive to Franz Josef.1
How long is the drive from Christchurch?
About 5 hours.
The regional group gives 382 km for the drive to Franz Josef.2
Is there an airport in Franz Josef?
No, Hokitika is nearest.
Hokitika is the closest commercial airport, with daily flights from Christchurch.4
Can I fly to Hokitika from Christchurch?
Yes, daily and non-stop.
Air New Zealand operates the daily non-stop flights.12
How far is Fox Glacier?
24 km, 24 minutes.
The regional group gives the drive between the villages.8
Is there a bus to Franz Josef?
Yes, regular services run.
The Department of Conservation says regular bus services run along the coast.19
Can I take the train to Franz Josef?
Partly, then by road.
The listed rail leg runs from Christchurch to Greymouth, and the rest is by road.
Is there a one-way tour to Queenstown?
Yes, a 12-hour tour.
It is listed from $170, with free cancellation.
Sources
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Getting Here ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Getting Here ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Getting Here ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Getting Here ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Getting Here ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Getting Here ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Getting Here ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Getting Here ↩
- Air New Zealand · Hokitika ↩
- Great Journeys NZ · Official site ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Department of Conservation · Roberts Point Track ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Where can I camp? ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Motels and self-contained ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Where can I camp? ↩
- Department of Conservation · Roberts Point Track ↩
- Department of Conservation · Sentinel Rock Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
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