3 Must-Do's With One Day In Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tuawe is a 13-kilometre-long temperate maritime glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. The glacier surges through temperate rainforest and turns a corner before falling another 250 metres above sea level and with it rapidly receding every year, it's a must-see for anyone travelling New Zealand. 

However, this area is spectacular and offers more than the Fox Glacier. In one-day you could tick off many of the local attractions without breaking the bank. Here are the must-do's if you only have one day in Fox Glacier. 

1. Fox Glacier Valley Walk
This walk will take you about one & a half hour return, depending on where the safety barriers are. The trail leads you over moraine debris, where the glacier once was. You will walk past sign-posts of different decades of where the glacier used to fall. It's astonishing of how much the glacier has shrunk in Sir William Fox's first visit. The track takes you to a view point, within 450 metres of the glacier where you will face the terminal face and snout of the glacier.

Image taken from the Department of Conservation

2. Fox Glacier Township
This intimate, quaint village offers breathtaking views as well as cosy places to grab a bite to eat. In this charming village, there are roughly nine restaurants and cafes, so options for everyone in your group to find something delicious and to their tasting. 

3.Lake Matheson 
Just a five minute drive from the township is Lake Matheson, a famous reflective lake, where it's crystal water creates a mirror image of New Zealand's highest peaks. It's become a mecca for photographers, as the beauty on a still day is surreal, but it also attracts walkers and tourists alike, as the track encircles the lake and takes you through native forest. ​

Image taken from the Department of Conservation