Facts & History
Franz Josef and South Westland has a long and colour history, in fact Abel Tasman and James Cook saw the mountains of the region from their ships!
About Glaciers
The Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers of New Zealand's Westland National Park are remembered by visitors for the extraordinary sights of glacier ice within the forest zone.
Attractions & Activities
The South West New Zealand World Heritage Area is home to the majestic glaciers, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier.
Franz Josef
You find yourself in a wonderland of pristine whiteness - ice pinnacles, blue crevasses, deep caves and towering seracs. The glorious crispness and purity of this jumbled icefall is truly astounding.
Whanganui
Cut loose in a canoe or ‘boot it’ deep into the interior of the largest tract of primeval lowland forest in the North Island.
Tongariro
Tread a path through the restless, contorted, moonscape terrain of New Zealand’s most spectacular volcanic parkland.
Rakiura
You are invited to visit New Zealand’s southernmost sanctuary and newest national park. It occupies the greater part of our third largest island.
Te Urewera
Welcome to the timeless, mist-shrouded valleys of the Whirinaki, Whakatane, Waimana and the jewel-like Lake Waikaremoana.
Paparoa
Witness the weird water-sculptured wonders of ‘Limestone Country’ on the wild West Coast of New Zealand.
Mt Aspiring
Journey into a tramper’s paradise of cloud-piercing mountains, one hundred glaciers, boulder-strewn rivers and dense rainforests.
Westland Tai Poutini
Soar high above the sparkling permanent snowfields, which feed giant ‘rivers of ice’ on New Zealand’s West Coast.
Nelson Lakes
If you would like to climb to ‘rocky mountain high’ from the valley below, then the ‘twin lakes park’ is the place to go.