Solo driver
Your own quad
Single quad
- Who drivesYou, alone
- Driver age16 or over
- BookingPick when booking
Price it for your group
What is quad biking in Franz Josef? What to expect on the ride
Guided off-road quad bike tour, Franz Josef
★ 4.9 · 369 user reviews
The short version
Quad biking in Franz Josef is a guided 2-hour ride through rainforest and across a glacial river bed, for a group of up to 14.
Gear and weather
Compare 3 side by side
Compare the ride with two other days
Choose how many are coming and see the from price for the quad ride, a flight and a lake cruise.
- The quad ride2 hours · starts at, per person $104
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View - A glacier flight25 minutes · starts at, per person $221
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View - Lake cruise2 hours · starts at, per person $73
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View
Currency conversion uses the ECB reference rate on GetYourGuide from-prices. The exact price is displayed when you book.
Two hours through rainforest and across a glacial river bed, on a quad you steer yourself or with a passenger behind you. Here is what happens from the first briefing to the last puddle, in order.
Editorial team, franzjosefquadbiking.com · Updated November 6, 2026 · Read in 6 min
In brief
- LengthThe listing gives the ride as 2 hours, for a group of up to 14.
- RouteIt follows ancient glacial pathways through dense rainforest, with rivers to splash through and views of the Southern Alps and Franz Josef Glacier.
- GearA helmet, gumboots and wet weather gear are included, and photos are free.
- WeatherThe listing lets the operator cancel for bad weather, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before.
- PriceThe tour starts from $104, rated 4.9 from 369 reviews.
The two hours, from base to river bed
Quad biking means driving a compact off-road vehicle with big knobbly tyres, and a quad bike tour in Franz Josef is a guided ride inside Westland Tai Poutini National Park, and the listing gives its length as 2 hours. The group is capped at 14. Everyone meets 15 minutes before the trip starts, on the Main Road next to The Landing Restaurant, in the same building as Glacier Helicopters and Air Safaris.
Before any engine starts you are kitted out. The guide fits you with wet weather gear and gumboots, and teaches you how to ride the machine. A helmet is on the inclusions list too, and free photos are part of the price. Reviewers mention a short test drive or practice run before the trail begins, which is where most first-timers settle their nerves.
From there the route heads out along ancient glacial pathways, carved into the land by ice and water over a very long time. The guide also tells Maori legends and local history along the way, and the point of the tour is the variety of ground more than the pace. The sections below take the forest, the river bed, the gear and the weather one at a time.
Three vehicles on the listing
Single quad, double quad or buggy
| Vehicle | Who rides | Limits | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single quad | One driver, steering alone | Driver 16 or over | Pick it when booking |
| Double quad | One driver and one passenger, no swapping | Passenger 145 cm tall; driver 18 or over with a minor passenger | Booked for 2, 4 or 6 people |
| Three-seater buggy | Two adults and one child | Buggy passengers 110 cm tall | Pick it when booking |
A GetYourGuide listing of a similar tour says drivers of double quads must be 18 or over and does not offer double quads or the buggy for booking, so check the page you book on.
Rainforest, river bed and mountain views
The listing describes the ride as passing through dense rainforest, with rivers to splash through and an ancient glacier river bed to explore, and with views of the Southern Alps and Franz Josef Glacier. One reviewer says the landscape ran from dense rainforest to something that looked like Mars, with rivers and mist, and others praise the river crossings and the flooded forest. The scenery changes within the same two hours, and that variety is what the reviews return to.
The river bed is the part that connects the ride to the glacier. The Department of Conservation describes the Waiho Valley as a dynamic and potentially hazardous place, where river levels and channels can change quickly during and after heavy rain, and where the whole river bed can be covered with flood water.1 That is also why a guided ride makes sense here: guides can read a changing river bed on the day, and you only need to follow their line.
Do not expect to ride onto the ice. One reviewer notes plainly that the tour does not go onto the glacier, and the listing promises views of Franz Josef Glacier, not a landing. The Department of Conservation says helicopters are the only safe way to get people onto the glacier for guided walks.2 If walking on ice is what you want, the heli hike page on this site explains the flight option, and the quad ride stays what it is: mud, water and forest.
What reviewers rate it
369 ratings, by star
- 5 stars349
- 4 stars14
- 3 stars2
- 2 stars2
- 1 star2
The star counts come from the listing's own breakdown, which totals 369 ratings and gives the overall score as 4.9.
Learning to ride, whatever your experience
Is quad biking easy for a first-timer? No experience is needed. The listing states no driving licence requirement, and a reviewer says no prior driving experience is needed. Reviewers who were new to quad bikes describe a sensible tutorial and a short test drive first, and two reviewers describe the guides as safety conscious without taking the fun away. The rules page on this site sets out ages, heights and passenger limits in full.
You choose how to ride. The listing offers a single quad, a double quad booked for 2, 4 or 6 people with one driver and one passenger per bike, or a three-seater buggy that takes two adults and one child. On a double quad the passenger cannot swap with the driver at any point, and passengers are not allowed to drive. If two of you want to share the steering, book two single quads.
Age is not a barrier in the reviews. Two reviewers say they are in their 60s or 70s and still had a great time, and one family reviewer came with children. The listing calls the tour suitable for all physical fitness levels, while advising against it for travelers with spinal injuries or who are pregnant. Anyone with a doubt can read the listing's wording before booking.
A short chooser
Match the ride to your group
Say who is coming and what you want from the two hours, and the matching vehicle comes up.
If I want to steer myself
A single quad
Drivers of single quads must be 16 or over.
If I would rather be a passenger
A double quad
A double quad carries one driver and one passenger, and the passenger must be 145 cm tall.
If I have a young child with me
The three-seater buggy
The buggy takes two adults and one child, and buggy passengers must be 110 cm tall.
If The forecast shows rain
Keep the booking
The operator calls the tour the ultimate rainy day activity, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before.3
If I want to walk on the glacier
Look at a flight instead
The Department of Conservation says helicopters are the only safe way onto the glacier for guided walks.2
Pick your machine
Which way to ride suits your group
Pairs
Two on one bike
Double quad
- Who drivesOne driver only
- Passenger145 cm tall
- BookingFor 2, 4 or 6 people
Families
The family buggy
Three-seater
- SeatsTwo adults, one child
- Child110 cm tall
- BookingPick when booking
Mud, water and what to wear
Wet weather gear and gumboots are provided, so the listing does not ask you to bring waterproofs. Several reviewers say the kit kept them dry and clean, and one says you can choose to stay dry or get a little wet. A four-star review is the honest counterweight: it warns that you can still get wet despite the wet weather gear. Treat the kit as good protection, not a promise of dryness.
What you wear underneath is up to you, and the valley can be colder than you expect. The Department of Conservation says a cold down-draft off the glacier is normal in the valley and that rainstorms occasionally catch visitors by surprise.5 Warm layers under the waterproofs and a change of socks in the car are sensible, and none of that needs a fact to be good advice.
Keep valuables simple. You are riding through water and mud, so a phone in a waterproof pouch or left at the base is easier than one in a pocket. The photos are taken for you and included in the price, which removes the main reason to carry a camera. Closed shoes for the walk between the car park and the base are enough, because the gumboots are supplied.
Your two hours in order
From the base to the last river crossing
15 min before
Arrive at the base
Meet on the Main Road next to The Landing Restaurant, in the building shared with Glacier Helicopters and Air Safaris.
Kit-up
Waterproofs and boots
The guide fits wet weather gear and gumboots, and a helmet is included.
Lesson
Learn the controls
The guide teaches you to ride, and reviewers describe a short test drive first.
On the trail
Rainforest and rivers
The route follows glacial pathways through dense rainforest, with rivers to splash through.
River bed
Open ground and mountains
The ride crosses an ancient glacier river bed with views of the Southern Alps and Franz Josef Glacier.
After
Back at base
The listing totals the tour at 2 hours, and free photos are part of the price.
Rain is part of the plan
The operator's own listing on the Tourism New Zealand site calls the off-road adventure the ultimate rainy day activity at Franz Josef Glacier.3 Glacier Country, the regional tourism group, lists the quad ride among its options for things to do in the rain.6 Of the 50 newest English reviews on file, 11 mention rain, and several say it made the ride better.
Rain is not an exception here. The Department of Conservation says the park lies in the path of the prevailing westerly winds, which can bring heavy rain at any time of the year, with up to five metres falling annually.4 The Franz Josef Glacier Guides put the glacier region at 6 to 8 metres a year.7 The two figures come from different sources and describe slightly different areas, so quote them as ranges, not as one number.
The limit is safety, not wetness. The listing lets the operator cancel for bad weather or too few travelers, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before for a full refund. A river that has risen too far is a reason for the guides to change the day, and the rainy day page on this site covers what else runs when the helicopters do not.
Video
Biking through a glacial river: Franz Josef quad biking
Jelbuilder on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
Westland Tai Poutini National Park lies in the path of the prevailing westerly winds, which can bring heavy rain at any time of the year, with up to five metres falling annually.
Before you ride
A checklist for the day
Before you book3
- Count who is coming and pick a single quad, a double quad or the buggy
- Remember that confirmation is manual and cancellation is free until 24 hours before
- Read the health advice: not for spinal injuries or pregnancy
Included in the price3
- A helmet, gumboots and wet weather gear
- Free photos
- A guide who teaches you to ride
On the day3
- Arrive 15 minutes before the trip
- Wear warm layers, since the valley can be cold5
- Expect to get some mud and water on you
Price, reviews and how to book
A quad bike tour in Franz Josef starts from $104 per person, and the listing is rated 4.9 from 369 reviews. The breakdown is 349 five-star ratings, 14 four-star, 2 three-star, 2 two-star and 2 one-star. The price is a from price, so the final fare depends on the vehicle you pick and the date.
Bookings of up to 8 travelers are accepted at once, and the listing says confirmation is manual, so do not expect an instant voucher. Free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before the trip for a full refund. If you want a sibling listing for comparison, a GetYourGuide page for the single quad version of a 2-hour tour starts from $146 and carries 323 reviews at 4.8.
Reviews name the guides and the pacing more than the machines. Guests praise a quick test drive, friendly instructors, river crossings and mud, and one reviewer calls the ride not for the faint hearted. That mix of fun and fair warning matches what the listing promises, so book it if you want a messy two hours and skip it if you want a quiet viewpoint.
FAQ
Common questions, answered fast.
How long is the guided ride?
The ride is 2 hours.
The listing gives the length as 2 hours, with a group of up to 14, and guests meet 15 minutes before the start.
Do I need quad biking experience in Franz Josef?
No, a guide teaches you.
The guide teaches you to ride, and the listing states no driving licence requirement.
What do I wear for quad biking in Franz Josef?
Warm layers under the supplied gear.
Wet weather gear, gumboots and a helmet are included, though a reviewer warns you can still get wet.
Does quad biking in Franz Josef run in the rain?
Yes, rain is expected.
The operator calls it the ultimate rainy day activity, and the listing lets the operator cancel for bad weather.3
Can two people share one quad bike?
Yes, on a double quad.
A double quad takes one driver and one passenger, and the two cannot swap places on the tour.
Does the ride go onto the glacier?
No, it passes the river bed.
The listing promises views of Franz Josef Glacier, and a reviewer says the tour does not go on the glacier.
How much does the guided ride cost?
From $104 per person.
That is the listing's from price, rated 4.9 from 369 reviews.
Is the booking confirmed straight away?
No, it is confirmed manually.
The listing says confirmation is manual, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before.
Sources
- Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) · Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere ↩
- Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) · Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk ↩
- Tourism New Zealand (newzealand.com) · Franz Josef Wilderness Tours - Off-Road Adventures ↩
- Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) · Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere ↩
- Glacier Country (regional tourism organisation) · Things to do in the rain ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
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