Mount Cook to the West Coast Glaciers by Campervan: The Long Way Round

Quick summary: On the map, Aoraki/Mount Cook Village and Franz Josef look almost next door, only around 40 km apart in a straight line. But the Southern Alps lie between them, and no road crosses, so the campervan drive goes the long way round: south to Twizel and Omarama, over the Lindis Pass to Wānaka, then over the Haast Pass to the coast. It’s around 500 km, a long day or, better, two relaxed days for a campervan or motorhome.

At a glance
Straight-line distance	Around 40 km
Driving distance	Around 500 km
Route	Twizel, Omarama, the Lindis Pass, Wānaka, the Haast Pass, Haast, Fox
Driving time	Around 6 hours 30 minutes without stops
Best overnight stop	Wānaka or Haast
Flight alternative	Scenic flights cross the Alps from either side

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Why is there no road from Mount Cook to Franz Josef?

Because the Southern Alps are a continuous wall of high peaks and glaciers along the spine of the South Island. Aoraki/Mount Cook and Franz Josef sit on opposite sides of the main divide, and the only road crossings are far to the north (Arthur’s Pass and Lewis Pass) and to the south (the Haast Pass). The glaciers on either side flow from the same snowfields, but the road between them is around ten times longer than the straight line.

What is the route?

Stage	Distance	What’s there
Mount Cook Village to Twizel	Around 65 km	Lake Pukaki and Peters Lookout
Twizel to Omarama	Around 30 km	Hydro lakes and gliding country
Omarama to Wānaka	Around 115 km	The Lindis Pass and golden tussock hills
Wānaka to Haast	Around 140 km	Lakes Hāwea and Wānaka, the Haast Pass
Haast to Fox Glacier	Around 120 km	Knights Point, Lake Paringa
Fox Glacier to Franz Josef	Around 25 km	The glacier townships

Should you do the RV drive between the glacier areas in one day?

It’s possible, but it makes for a long day of mountain and coastal driving, with little time for the waterfalls and walks on the Haast Pass. Splitting it with a night in Wānaka, around 210 km from Mount Cook, or Haast, around 350 km, makes it far more enjoyable, and lets you arrive at the West Coast glaciers in time to settle in before a morning flight. See Haast by campervan.

Can you see both sides from the air instead?

Yes. Some scenic flights from Mount Cook cross over the main divide to view the West Coast glaciers, and some flights from Franz Josef and Fox circle Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Tasman Glacier. A flight can show you both sides of the Alps in under an hour. See helicopter flights and snow landings.

Which direction is better?

Both work. Travelling from Mount Cook to the West Coast suits a trip finishing in Christchurch via Arthur’s Pass, while travelling from the West Coast to Mount Cook suits a loop from Christchurch or a trip continuing to Queenstown. See our South Island glacier loop.

What should you know about the drive?

• Fill up in Twizel or Wānaka, as services between Wānaka and Fox are limited.
• Watch for wind in the Mackenzie and on the Lindis Pass.
• Check road conditions for the Haast Pass, where slips can close the road after heavy rain.
• Allow for one-lane bridges on the West Coast.

See our guide to driving the West Coast and our sister site’s Lindis Pass route.

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Frequently Asked Questions