Activities in Nature

Venture in to the unspoilt wilds of New Zealand native bush, discover Lake Matheson the “reflection lake”, explore former gold towns, jet boat the Waitangi-Taona river or design a custom, guided tour.  A number of tour operators offer coach transport, guided walks and informative commentary about the flora and fauna of New Zealand.

Nature Sanctuaries

White Heron Sanctuary is located half an hour north of Franz Josef.  Nestled in the Waitangi Roto Nature Reserve, the sanctuary is New Zealand’s only White Heron nesting site.  The colony can be visited from October to early March every year.  Take a jet boat cruise on the Okarito Lagoon and guided tour to this unique haven, stroll through the bush to a hide and view the birds.

Horse Treks

South Westland Horse Treks offer a variety of horse treks in the Franz Josef area including short farmland rides, riverbank and river swimming treks, a pub crawl and longer all day treks.  Based just 20 minutes north of Franz Josef South Westland Horse Treks cater for all ages and abilities.

Hunting

Guided hunting tours for Chamois and Bull Thar, guided fishing tours for salmon and trout all operate out of Franz Josef.  All hunting is seasonal.

For more information, contact the Alpine Glacier Motel:

Phone: +64 (0)3 752 0224
Fax: +64 (0) 3 752 0221
Reservations Freephone within New Zealand: 0800 757 111
Email: alpineglacier@xtra.co.nz
Postal address: PO Box 91, Franz Josef, New Zealand
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