The mighty Franz Josef glacier is a spotlight of many individuals’s South Island adventures. In this weblog put up, you’ll discover out that one of many coolest methods (no pun meant) is to see the Franz Josef Glacier from a kayak!
The staff at Glacier Country Kayak take you on a tour of the gorgeous glacial lake, displaying you completely breathtaking views, and filling your head with fascinating native data. You can go to Franz Josef on our South Island or North and South Island excursions. Find out extra about our 2022/23 excursions right here.
Here’s why we expect Franz Josef Glacier by kayak is the brand new NZ should do!
Mirror photos
Lake Mapourika, located within the Franz Josef Glacier valley, was created some 14,000 years in the past because the glacier retreated after a major ice age. The surrounding tall peaks depart the lake calm and mirror-like. Not solely does the lake’s shelter make for straightforward paddling, it provides you unbeatable panoramic views of snowfields, glaciers and a number of the tallest peaks within the nation. Just try these images…
Weather
If you’ve heard something about heli-hiking or the Franz Josef glacier, you’ve most likely been advised that the climate is extremely temperamental. The west coast of the South Island is named the wettest space in New Zealand (which is why the rainforest is so lush and exquisite).
The disadvantage to that is that some days the glacier is shrouded in cloud, and there’s not a lot to see. But there’s some excellent news! Because Lake Mapourika is so sheltered by the dramatic, towering mountains that border it, typically the climate on the lake is significantly better than it’s on the glacier.
So on a wet, foggy day, whilst you might not be capable to see the glacier, you may nonetheless see some fairly spectacular sights out of your little yellow kayak.
Sustainable sightseeing
The staff love New Zealand’s distinctive pure setting and have a ardour for conservation and sustainability. Kayaking is a brilliant low influence technique to see the glacier and surrounding surroundings, so you may make sure that you’re taking solely images and leaving solely paddle ripples. The lake you paddle on is surrounded by Jurassic age rainforest. It is a part of the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, a World Heritage Area.
Along with different valuable native wildlife, the rarest Kiwi on this planet, the Rowi lives right here. Glacier Country Kayaks do their greatest to make sure your kayaking journey has the smallest influence on our surroundings as attainable.
As nicely as this, a part of the worth of your ticket goes towards the Department of Conservation, which is answerable for defending New Zealand’s distinctive pure, historic and cultural heritage. Go you!
Guides who present and inform
That National Park we advised you about can be the oldest rainforest within the Westland space. It is house to quite a lot of native birds, from the notorious cheeky kea to the uncommon and exquisite crested grebe. The biggest half about having an enthusiastic and educated information is having the ability to perceive what you’re !
Your information will inform you tales of native Maori legend, inform you about geographic historical past, wildlife and conservation of the world. These guys are really passionate, so that you’re sure to be taught one thing new to share together with your Stray mates on the bus.
If you select the paddle and stroll choice, your tour features a guided stroll the place you’ll be taught extra concerning the rainforest and the tremendous uncommon Rowi kiwi. This observe is made and maintained by Glacier Country Kayaks, so there will likely be nobody else on it! This provides you a method higher likelihood of seeing the wildlife, within the peaceable stillness of the luxurious rainforest.
An image paints a thousand phrases
Your information can even doc your kayaking journey – they’re specialists at grabbing these wanted candid pictures, and taking advantage of the mirror-like lake. The better part is, you may take all of your footage house without spending a dime! So you may share your new enjoyable information in your Instagram captions, alongside epic images.
About Glacier Country Kayaks
Glacier Country Kayaks is run by an superior crew from a variety of backgrounds who’ve a wealth of data and expertise. They supply three kayaking experiences. Check out their kayak experiences and add one to your tour of New Zealand.