Camping at Franz Josef and Fox Glacier: Campsites, Rules and Tips

Franz Josef and Fox Glacier: which to choose

Franz Josef is the bigger village, with more cafes, shops and a hot pool complex, and it suits a stay of two nights with a helicopter flight or a guided walk. Fox Glacier is quieter, close to Lake Matheson and with the Gillespies Beach road starting from the village, and it suits a slower pace. The two are 25 minutes apart, so you can stay in one and visit the other.

If you are driving from Christchurch, Franz Josef comes first, and if you are coming over Haast Pass from Wānaka, Fox Glacier does. The Christchurch to Franz Josef drive guide and the Wānaka to Haast Pass guide cover the roads. Most people want a night at each end if they have the time.

Holiday parks in the villages

Both villages have holiday parks with powered sites, showers, kitchens and a few with a hot tub, and they are the easy choice, especially when it rains. They fill in summer, at Easter and around school holidays, so book ahead for each night, as our holiday parks guide recommends.

In winter many parks keep a quieter schedule and the glaciers are often clear and cold, a good season for a visit. The weather can still close roads, so check the NZTA Journey Planner and read the severe weather guide if heavy rain is forecast.

DOC campsites near the glaciers

DOC runs a campsite at Gillespies Beach, reached from Fox Glacier along Cook Flat Road, which is narrow and more than half gravel. It sits near a seal colony and the remains of a gold mining settlement, and DOC says sites are not held for anyone arriving without a booking, so book online before you drive out. The Otto/MacDonalds campsite is on State Highway 6 at the northern end of Lake Mapourika, about 15 km north of Franz Josef, with a lakeside beach popular for swimming.

Both are simpler than a holiday park, with basic facilities and no power, and they suit self-sufficient campers. Check the DOC page for the current fee and facilities, and bring plenty of repellent for the sandflies. If either is full, the next DOC campsites are an hour or more away.

Freedom camping at the glaciers

DOC lists freedom camping as prohibited at the glacier access areas, including the Franz Josef Glacier road and carparks, the Fox Glacier visitor centre carpark, Okarito Recreation Reserve and Jetty Bay on Lake Mapourika. Westland District Council has its own rules and areas, and the penalties for camping in the wrong place are real.

The Westland freedom camping guide and the South Westland hub list the current picture, and the freedom camping rules guide explains what a certified self-contained vehicle can do. If in doubt, pick a holiday park or a DOC campsite and save yourself the risk of a fine.

What to do and what to expect

The main walks are the Franz Josef Glacier Valley and Fox Glacier Valley tracks, which lead to viewpoints, and Lake Matheson near Fox, which gives a reflection of the mountains on a still morning. DOC posts the track status, and the valleys close after heavy rain or slips. Guided ice trips and helicopter flights are run by operators and book up in summer.

The West Coast is one of the wettest parts of the country, and a spare day gives you a better chance of a clear view. The sandflies are fierce on still days, so carry repellent and cover up at dusk. The sandfly guide has more. Fuel and food are available in both villages but cost more than in the towns, so fill up in Hokitika or Haast if you can.

Planning your glacier stay in KiwiCamping

On the Coast, KiwiCamping maps the DOC campsites at Gillespies Beach and Lake Mapourika along with the huts and the holiday parks in both glacier villages. A trip from Hokitika to Haast, saved in order, shows each leg's length and the rain forecast for every stop. Driving directions and the state of State Highway 6 are for your maps app and the NZTA Journey Planner.

Glacier-area DOC sites are booked through DOC, where booking is needed at all.

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