Wet-weather friendly
Quad ride
This site's tour
- Length2 hours
- Rating4.9 from 369
- Pricefrom $104
Price it for your group
Things to do in Franz Josef, in sensible order
Compare 4 side by side
What a big day costs your party
Type your party size and compare four headline activities
- Quad rideThis site's tour · starts at, per person $104
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View - Lake cruiseOn Mapourika · starts at, per person $73
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View - SkydiveChoice of heights · starts at, per person $205
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View - Guided lookout walkValley floor · starts at, per person $65
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View
Currency conversion uses the ECB reference rate on GetYourGuide from-prices. The exact price is displayed when you book.
A small village with a glacier at the end of the road, a rainforest behind it and a lake nearby. Here is what to do, what is free and how to arrange a day around the weather.
Editorial team, franzjosefquadbiking.com · Updated November 6, 2026 · Read in 8 min
In brief
- FreeThe Terrace Walk to glow-worms is 1.8 km return and takes 30 min.1,2
- On wheelsThis site's quad tour takes 2 hours and is listed from $104.
- On waterThe lake cruise takes 2 hours and is listed from $73.
- In the airA skydive is listed from $205 and a flight with landing from $221.
- In the rainA hot tub soak lasts 60 minutes and is listed at NZ$105 for one adult.3,4
Start with the glacier, then fill the day around it
Everything in Franz Josef starts with the ice, and anyone asking what to do in Franz Josef should begin there. The glacier descends from the Southern Alps into rainforest close to sea level, and the village sits only a few kilometres away.5,6 The regional tourism group lists scenic flights, guided glacier hikes, a cycleway, forest hikes, guided walks, kayaking, quad biking and skydiving among the things to do.7 That is a lot for a small place, so it helps to sort the options by time and by weather.
Spend the first morning on the valley walks, while the plan is still flexible. Sentinel Rock Walk is 900 m return and takes 20 min, with panels that show photos of the glacial retreat.8,9 Add Peters Pool Walk, which is 1.1 km return and takes 25 min.10 Neither walk asks for much, and between them they give you the shape of the valley before you spend money on anything else.
A longer plan is the way to cope with changing weather. Weather conditions in the park can change dramatically in a short space of time, and heavy rain can arrive at any time of year.11,12 Keep one flexible slot for a flight or a hike, one for something under cover, and the rest for walks. That mix lets you swap the order on the day without losing the whole plan.
Compared
Franz Josef activities by time and price
| Activity | Time | From | Best weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quad ride | 2 hours | $104 | Rain or shine |
| Lake cruise | 2 hours | $73 | Calm day |
| Lake kayak | 3 hours | $87 | Calm day |
| Skydive | 3 hours | $205 | Clear sky |
| Flight with landing | 25 minutes | $221 | Weather dependent |
| Wildlife centre | Indoors21 | $38 | Any weather |
Prices are from prices as listed; the weather notes marked with a source come from the listings themselves.
Free things to do in and around the village
Walking is the main free activity. Terrace Walk is 1.8 km return and takes 30 min, starting at the south end of the village.1 Take a torch after dark and look for glow-worms, especially under large fallen trees beside the track.2 The Tatare Tunnels Walk is 3.6 km return and takes 1 hr 20 min, and it leads to old mining tunnels that you can explore with a torch and raincoat.14,15 All of these start near the village streets.
Another free pastime is panning for gold. A recreational gold fossicking area on the Waiho River bed needs no permit, and you are welcome to try with a pan or sluice box.16 The Department of Conservation warns against crossing the Callery or Waiho rivers on foot, as both are very swift, cold and dangerous, so use the road bridge to move between banks.17 It is a pleasant way to pass an hour with children.
The glacier car park charges for parking, so a walk from the village can save money. Parking is NZ$2.50 per half hour or NZ$20 a day, with cards only.18,19 Te Ara a Waiau is a walkway and cycleway from the township to the glacier car park, 8.7 km return, and takes 2 hr on foot or 1 hr by mountain bike.20 That turns the glacier visit into a free outing that begins at your door.
How long each takes
Hours needed for the main paid activities
- Quad ride2
- Lake cruise2
- Guided lookout walk3
- Lake kayak3
- Skydive3
- Okarito kayak4
Listed durations, not time of day; check the booking page for start times.
Adventure on the ground, the water and the air
Among Franz Josef activities that cost money, this site's tour is the quad bike ride. It is a 2-hour off-road tour through the national park, listed from $104 per person, with a 4.9 rating from 369 reviews. It follows glacial pathways, rivers and rainforest, and the operator provides gumboots, a helmet and wet weather gear. It suits wet weather, though the operator may cancel for bad weather.
On the water, the regional group names Lake Mapourika as a top spot for boating, fishing, kayaking, camping and swimming.22 The 2-hour scenic cruise is listed from $73. The 3-hour kayak tour is listed from $87. Both leave the village behind, and both look toward mountains and still water, which is a different side of the region.
In the air, you can choose between a skydive and a helicopter, and both are weather dependent. The skydive is listed from $205, offers a choice of jump heights and takes 3 hours. A flight with a landing runs 25 minutes and is listed from $221. Adventure options in the area also include river rapids and clay target shooting.23 Book these early in your stay.
Match your mood
What should you do first?
Pick the line closest to your plans and the answer sits beside it
If I want something free
Walk Terrace Walk
If It is raining and I still want action
Book the quad ride
The single-quad listing says it runs rain or shine.
If I want to relax after hiking
Book a hot tub
If I want kiwi and indoor fun
Go to the wildlife centre
It is described as a leading indoor attraction on the coast.21
If I want a big view
Choose a flight
The listing has a 10-minute landing in a 25-minute flight.
Three headline activities
Quad, lake or sky: the big three
Calmest
Lake cruise
Mirror reflections
- Length2 hours
- Rating4.7 from 144
- Pricefrom $73
Biggest thrill
Skydive
Choice of heights
- Length3 hours
- Rating4.9 from 129
- Pricefrom $205
Wildlife, kiwi and the white heron
The West Coast Wildlife Centre in the village is described as one of the most popular indoor attractions on the West Coast.21 A ticket is listed from $38 and is valid for 2 days from first use. A kiwi backstage tour lasts 45 minutes, is limited to 8 participants and is listed from $56. Both are useful when the weather turns.
The national park shelters the only population of the endangered rowi, New Zealand's rarest kiwi, in its lowland forest.28 The kayak and walking tour to Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary takes 4 hours and is listed from $99, with a 4.8 rating from 72 reviews. It is a calm, slow way to see the birdlife of the lagoon country, away from the village, and it suits a day when you want paddles and boots rather than engines.
The white heron, or kōtuku, has a small population of approximately 150 to 200, with its only New Zealand breeding ground in the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve.29 Tours to the colony leave from Whataroa, a drive away from Franz Josef, so they suit a day with a flexible plan. The lake cruise also notes that you might glimpse a white heron feeding, if you are lucky.
One fair-weather day
A day in Franz Josef from walk to soak
Morning
Sentinel Rock, 20 min
Late morning
Peters Pool, 25 min
A 1.1 km return walk, accessible for wheelchairs.10
Midday
Quad ride, 2 hours
This site's tour is listed from $104 per person.
Afternoon
Wildlife centre
A ticket is valid for 2 days from first use.
Dusk
Hot tub soak, 60 minutes
Night
Torch walk for glow-worms
What to do when the cloud comes down
Heavy rain is a normal part of the place, and plans should allow for it. Prevailing westerlies can bring heavy rain at any time of the year, with up to 5 m falling annually.12 The regional tourism group says there is an abundance of enjoyable things to do in the rain.30 That is good news, as the village has a list of indoor options and a few outdoor ones that suit wet weather.
Indoors, the wildlife centre is the obvious stop, and a 40 minute HELIMAX film, Westland Wonderland, plays at the Franz Josef Cinema.21,31 Outdoors, the hot tubs are made for rain. The operator calls Waiho a magical place in the rain, and the shelters keep your possessions dry.32 Walks in the forest also work in drizzle, if you wear a waterproof layer.24
The quad ride continues in wet weather too. The listing for the single quad tour says it runs rain or shine, and this site's tour supplies wet weather gear. Flights and glacier hikes are different. They depend on the weather, so book them early in your stay and leave spare days for a reschedule, since a grounded flight can only be flown on another day.
Video
Things to do in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
Language Traveller on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
a top spot for boating, fishing, kayaking, camping and swimming
Plan well
Checks and kit for a Franz Josef day
Bring4
Evenings in the village
After a day outside, the village offers a few ways to unwind. Waiho Hot Tubs is open daily from 10 am in summer and from 2 pm in winter until after dusk.13 A 60 minute soak for one adult is listed at NZ$105, and for two adults at NZ$155.4,33 The tubs are private and wood-fired, set in rainforest, and the admission includes towels, drinking water and hot showers.34,35 Bring your own snacks and drink, without glassware.36,37
For something quieter, the regional list of relaxation options includes a luxury spa in the village.38 The village also has a supermarket at 24 State Highway 6, and an ATM stands outside the West Coast Wildlife Centre.39,40 Fuel is available around the clock all year at Glacier Motors.41 Together, these basics make an unplanned evening easy.
A torch walk is the simplest evening of all. Terrace Walk is 30 min, and glow-worms can be spotted at night.1,2 Take a torch, walk slowly and turn the beam toward the ground. Then end the evening with a soak or a meal in the village. The air cools quickly, so bring a jacket, and remember that a cold down-draft off the glacier is normal in the valley.42
A simple plan for a short stay or a longer one
For a single day with fair weather, begin with Sentinel Rock Walk, which takes 20 min.8 Then join the quad ride at midday for 2 hours. Add the wildlife centre in the afternoon, and finish with a 60 minute soak in the hot tubs.3 That day mixes a view, an adventure, an indoor stop and a rest, and every piece can move if the weather asks, so treat the order as a suggestion rather than a schedule.
With a longer stay, put the flight or heli-hike on the first morning, as those depend most on the sky. A heli-hike is listed from $530 and takes 4 hours. The following day can hold the lake cruise, or a longer walk such as Lake Wombat, which is 3.8 km return.43 Leave room to swap days around if the cloud sits low, and book the flexible pieces last.
Use the visitor centre as your planning desk. The Westland Tai Poutini National Park Visitor Centre is at 69 Cron Street and opens daily from 8:30am to 5:00pm, except Christmas Day.44,25 Staff can advise on track conditions, and the regional list recommends it for weather conditions, hiking guides and personal locator beacons.45 Take a printed map, and keep your phone charged, since coverage is good in the village but gaps appear between towns.46
FAQ
Common questions, answered fast.
What is free to do in Franz Josef?
How long should I stay in Franz Josef?
A single day covers the basics.
The glacier guides advise at least two days in the region, which leaves room to move weather-dependent flights.47
What can I do in Franz Josef when it rains?
Is there a quad bike tour in Franz Josef?
Yes, it lasts 2 hours.
This site's tour is listed from $104 per person.
Can I see kiwi near Franz Josef?
Yes, on a backstage kiwi tour.
The listed tour lasts 45 minutes for up to 8 people.
Is there an ATM and a supermarket?
Can I go skydiving in Franz Josef?
Yes, from a choice of heights.
The listing offers a choice of jump heights, and the jump takes 3 hours.
Sources
- Department of Conservation · Terrace Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Terrace Walk ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Department of Conservation · Sentinel Rock Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Sentinel Rock Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Peters Pool Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Department of Conservation · Tatare Tunnels Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Tatare Tunnels Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Department of Conservation · Roberts Point Track ↩
- Department of Conservation · Roberts Point Track ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Walking and hiking ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Things to do in the rain ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Lakes and rivers ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Adventure ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Family friendly ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Options and pricing ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Nature and wildlife tours ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Things to do in the rain ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Things to do in the rain ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef Glacier ↩
- Waiho Hot Tubs (operator) · Risk and safety information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Relaxation ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Department of Conservation · Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere ↩
- Department of Conservation · Lake Wombat Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation · Westland Tai Poutini National Park ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Walking and hiking ↩
- Glacier Country Tourism Group · Visitor Information ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
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