See a Glacier up Close with Fox Guides

If you’re ready for a truly awesome adventure and want to discover one of the most incredible things to do on the West Coast, then visit a true New Zealand icon, The Fox Glacier. The mighty Fox Glacier is a 12-kilometre-long glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

Visiting The Fox Glacier is one of the must-do West Coast sightseeing attractions when you are exploring the South Island. It is located within a World Heritage Site and once you see it with your own eyes you will understand why this stunning area is a protected treasure. This West Coast attraction is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world and a trip with one of Fox Glacier Guiding’s expert staff is a great way to make the most of the experience. They also offer multiple options to see the glacier up close, so no matter how you choose to experience the glacier, they have a tour to accommodate your needs.

 

The spectacular Fox Glacier (Photo Credit Fox Guides)

For visitors wanting unparalleled aerial views, Fox Glacier Guiding has been thrilling thousands of tourists each year with their unique HeliHike Guided Tours. These aerial tours are suitable for those aged 9 years and up and you only need low to moderate fitness to enjoy the ride of your life. Once landed, visitors are taken on a guided tour that, in good weather conditions, can last for up to three hours. All the necessary equipment will be provided. All you need to take is your sense of adventure and a few simple basics to protect you from the cold and the sun. Oh, and of course, your camera!

For those that prefer terra firma, the Fox Trail Terminal Face Walk is a guided tour suitable for ages 5 and up. You will walk to the edge of the glacier and can usually see where the Fox River emerges from it. It is common for people to see and hear the ice move and collapse as nature reveals its mighty power – from a safe distance of course! During this gentle tour, one of Fox Guides’ expert staff will impart information about how The Fox Glacier has been shaping its environment for thousands of years. Visitors with a whole day to spare can try the Fox It Up experience, which introduces the exciting sport of ice climbing. No experience is necessary as your specially trained guides will teach you everything you need to know before you set off in a helicopter that will transfer you to the ice.

 

For the truly adventurous, why not try the Fox It Up: Ice Climbing Adventure (Photo Credit Fox Guides)

Another day-long option for the adventurous is the Browne Fox Chancellor Dome Heli Trek.  Travelling via helicopter and landing 4000 feet above the ground, the highlight is the final ascent, by foot, to the summit at 6526 feet. The summit boasts some of the best views of the Southern Alps highest peaks and the magnificent snowfields that feed the Fox Glacier. For those with more time available, Fox Guides offer the Browne Fox Chancellor Overnight Heli-Trek. Similar to the Browne Fox Chancellor Dome Heli Trek, this experience has the addition of staying overnight in a historic mountain hut.

For those with a true passion for adventure there is the Extreme Fox Heli Hike. After being given full instruction and being flown high above the mountain ranges of the Southern Alps you will land on the glacier. Your experienced guide will take you on a mind-blowing trek where you will be challenged to use a variety of mountain climbing techniques as you traverse and conquer the awe-inspiring Fox Glacier.

For visitors wanting to reach New Zealand’s rugged and beautiful West Coast, collect your car hire from our Omega Rental Cars’ Christchurch Airport branch and head along State Highway 73. This amazing scenic drive will take you through the rolling Canterbury plains and over the spectacular Arthurs Pass Alpine crossing, before heading South down State Highway 6 along the West Coast.