New Zealand’s Glaciers by Campervan: Franz Josef, Fox and Aoraki/Mount Cook

Quick summary: New Zealand’s glaciers are some of the most accessible in the world, and a campervan is a superb way to reach them. On the West Coast, Franz Josef and Fox glaciers descend from the Southern Alps towards the rainforest, and on the eastern side of the same mountains, the Tasman Glacier lies beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook. With a campervan or motorhome you can stay close to the ice, wait out the weather, and be ready when the skies clear for a heli-hike, a snow landing or a valley walk.

At a glance
Main glacier areas	Franz Josef and Fox on the West Coast; Aoraki/Mount Cook in the Mackenzie
Pickup cities	Christchurch, Queenstown, Greymouth, Nelson
Ways onto the ice	Heli-hikes and scenic flights with snow landings
Free ways to see them	Valley walks, viewpoints and Lake Matheson
The key to planning	Spare days, because weather often grounds flights
Driving between the two sides	Around 500 km via the Haast Pass; there’s no road over the Alps

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Why see the glaciers by campervan?

Because the glaciers reward flexibility. Flights and heli-hikes depend on clear weather, and the West Coast is famously wet, so the travellers who see the ice from above are often those who can stay an extra night and try again. A campervan lets you park up in Franz Josef, Fox or Mount Cook Village, change your plans with the forecast, and wake up close to the mountains. Between the glaciers, the road passes rainforest, wild beaches, mirror lakes and mountain passes.

Where are New Zealand’s glaciers?

Area	Glaciers	Base	Guide
Franz Josef	Franz Josef/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere	Franz Josef township	Franz Josef by campervan
Fox Glacier	Fox/Te Moeka o Tuawe	Fox Glacier township	Fox Glacier by campervan
Aoraki/Mount Cook	Tasman, Hooker and Mueller glaciers	Mount Cook Village or Twizel	Mount Cook Village, Twizel and Lake Pukaki
South Westland	Gateway between Wānaka and the glaciers	Haast	Haast

What glacier experiences are there?

Experience	What it involves	Guide	Tours
Heli-hiking	A helicopter flight onto the ice and a guided walk	Heli-hiking	Heli-hike tours
Scenic flights and snow landings	Flights over the glaciers and peaks, landing on snow	Flights and snow landings	Helicopter tours
Twin glacier flights	Franz Josef and Fox in one flight	Twin glacier flights	Twin glacier tours
Skydiving	Freefall with the glaciers and the Tasman Sea below	Skydiving	Skydive tours
Kayaking	Glacier lakes, lagoons and icebergs	Kayaking	Kayak tours
Nature and wildlife	Kiwi, rainforest and wetland birds	Nature and wildlife	Nature tours

Browse all glacier tours and our featured tours.

How do you get to the glaciers in an RV?

From Christchurch, the quickest route to the West Coast glaciers crosses Arthur’s Pass to Greymouth and heads south, while Aoraki/Mount Cook is reached across the Canterbury Plains and the Mackenzie Basin. From Queenstown, the road runs over the Haast Pass. Greymouth, on the West Coast, is the closest pickup city to Franz Josef. See our guides to getting there.

What should you plan for?

• Spare days. See our guide to weather and spare days.
• The road. See driving the West Coast.
• Where to stay. See campsites near the glaciers.
• Staying safe. See glacier safety and retreat.

Which itineraries are available?

See our glacier itineraries, from Mount Cook in two days to a ten-day South Island glacier loop. For the wider South Island road trip, see our sister site’s complete guide to campervanning in New Zealand.

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Frequently Asked Questions