---
type: "Article"
title: "Franz Josef Glacier and the beautiful Maori legend"
description: "Travel journalist Justine Tyerman learns about Franz Josef Glacier and the Maori legend of Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere: The Tears of the Ice Maiden."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/new-zealand/franz-josef-glacier-maori-legend"
author: "Justine Tyerman"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 12
tags: ["Landscape", "Nature", "New Zealand"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/new-zealand"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/alps"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/winter-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/hiking"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/sea-travel"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj", at: 2026-07-04T13:33:18+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: franz-josef-glacier-maori-legend.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Justine Tyerman"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj"
    last_modified: 2016-08-31
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:33:18+00:00
---

# Franz Josef Glacier and the beautiful Maori legend

> Franz Josef Glacier on New Zealand's South Island is an 11-kilometre river of ice descending from 3000m in the Southern Alps to lush rainforest, celebrated for its Maori legend Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere (The Tears of the Ice Maiden) and accessible via thrilling helicopter-guided ice expeditions.

## Destination
Westland Tai Poutini National Park, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand — part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Te Wahipounamu. The glacier terminates 5km from Franz Josef township and 18km from the sea.

## Getting there
Air New Zealand flies direct from Auckland to Queenstown. Land transport options include rental vehicles (e.g. JUCY Rentals). From Franz Josef village, helicopters operated by Glacier Guides fly to the glacier; the township itself is also accessible by foot or bike to glacier viewpoints.

## When to go
Accessible year-round (except Christmas Day, weather permitting). A clear winter's day with fresh snow on the Southern Alps is described as the prime time to visit.

## Why visit
The Franz Josef is the world's steepest and fastest-flowing commercially-guided glacier, offering dramatic crevasses, ice caves, and pinnacles, combined with rich Maori cultural heritage and the legend of Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere.

## What to see
- **The Pinnacles** — A high landing site on the glacier where ice fractures and tumbles over steep terrain, offering a panoramic view of the Southern Alps.
- **Crevasses and ice formations** — Deep blue-white crevasses, sharp ice peaks, caves, and curious formations explored on guided heli-hike expeditions.
- **Terminal face viewpoint** — A safe look-out 5km from the township where visitors can view the glacier's terminal face without a helicopter.
- **Glacier Hot Pools** — Private soaking pools at Glacier Guides' base in Franz Josef township, free with the Ice Explorer and Heli-Hike experiences.

## What to do
- **Ice Explorer (4-hour heli-hike)** — Helicopter ride to the Pinnacles followed by a guided walk through crevasses and up ice staircases using crampons and poles.
- **Heli-Hike (3-hour)** — Shorter helicopter-accessed guided glacier walk run by Franz Josef Glacier Guides.
- **Heli-Ice Climb (5-hour)** — The longest helicopter-accessed glacier experience offered by Glacier Guides.
- **Glacier Valley Walk (3-hour)** — Ground-level guided walk to view the glacier without a helicopter, run year-round.
- **Spa and massage at Glacier Base** — Post-glacier relaxation with professional massage and private hot pool soaking at the Glacier Guides base.

## Good to know
Since 2008 the glacier has been in major retreat, losing over 800m in length; a 2012 ice collapse made terminal-face hiking unsafe, so helicopters are now the standard access method. All equipment — jackets, over-pants, boots, crampons, mittens, hats, and a carry-bag — is provided by Glacier Guides. Hot pool admission is included with the Ice Explorer and Heli-Hike packages. The glacier moves 1–2m per day in winter and 3–4m per day in summer.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-9.jpg"
    caption: "The mist cleared to a perfect sunny day"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-30
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-5.jpg"
    caption: "Guide Tim shows us how the crampons fit onto the boots"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-30
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-10.jpg"
    caption: "Guide Tim doing track maintainance"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-30
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-4.jpg"
    caption: "Justine following guide Tim up a steep set of steps"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-30
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-11.jpg"
    caption: "Our team heading up the glacier on the Ice Explorer expedition"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-30
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-12.jpg"
    caption: "Inside a narrow crevasse on Franz Josef Glacier"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-30
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-6.jpg"
    caption: "The chopper ride took us up the glacier to the “Pinnacles”"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-30
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-7.jpg"
    caption: "Sharp pinnacles on the glacier"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-30
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-17.jpg"
    caption: "The helicopter arrives to take us back to Glacier Base"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-15.jpg"
    caption: "The hot pools at Glacier Base in Franz Josef township"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-31
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-16.jpg"
    caption: "Glacier Hot Pools at Glacier Guides base in Franz Josef"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-31
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/franz-josef-glacier-hiking-14.jpg"
    caption: "A relaxing massage after a day on the glacier was bliss"
    keywords: ["Franz Josef Glacier", "New Zealand"]
    captured: 2016-08-31
```