Itineraries
West Coast Glaciers Itinerary — Franz Josef, Fox & the Wild Coast
The West Coast is New Zealand at its wildest — glaciers, temperate rainforest, and roads that hug the Tasman Sea for hours. Here's the 4-day route.
The Nomado Team · 30 June 2026 · 9 min read
Photo: Jörg Hempel · CC BY-SA 3.0 de via Wikimedia Commons
Sights along the way
Sight photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons — see individual post credits.
Day 1 — Christchurch → Punakaiki (4.5 hrs)
Via Arthur's Pass. Kea in the car park, tussock passes, dramatic descent to the coast. Pancake Rocks at high tide.
Day 2 — Punakaiki → Hokitika → Franz Josef (3 hrs)
Stop at Hokitika Gorge (turquoise water, swing bridge), lunch at Fat Pipi Pizza. Overnight Franz Josef.
Day 3 — Franz Josef & Fox
Sunrise at Lake Matheson (mirror reflections of Aoraki and Tasman). Glacier valley walk in the morning. Optional heli-hike ($550-ish) — worth every cent.
Day 4 — Franz Josef → Wanaka via Haast Pass (4.5 hrs)
Ship Creek, Knights Point, Blue Pools. Overnight Wanaka.
Sandfly warning
The West Coast has the world's worst sandflies. Bring DEET-based repellent and keep car doors closed. Serious. See our packing list.
Which car?
The Haast Pass is sealed but narrow. Any mid-size SUV does it easily. Winter — chains required, prefer 4WD.
Related reading
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