Fox Glacier Tours & Holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). 

However, we continue to strongly recommend  that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

Although glaciers often evoke images of heavy snow and ice cold temperatures, the weather at Fox Glacier doesn’t change a great deal throughout the year. Winter (June to August) experiences relatively mild weather by typical winter standards, with average temperatures ranging between 5-15°C. 

Snow falls at the top of the mountains, but you’ll rarely see snow at sea level. The warmest months are January through March, but average highs hover just under 20°C and rarely exceed 25°C. Fox Glacier receives a whopping 6-8 metres of rainfall per year (which is amazing for the glaciers) and you can expect at least some rain no matter what time of year you visit. March tends to be the wettest month, while February is the driest.

The easiest way to get to Fox Glacier is by driving or doing a tour. You can drive to Fox Glacier Village on State Highway 6 from Hokitika (2 hours), Wanaka (3.5 hours) or from Franz Josef Glacier Village (25 minutes). A public bus is available with InterCity between Nelson, Queenstown and Fox Glacier. However, you might not be able to rely solely on public transport if you want to get to walks, lookouts and nearby attractions throughout Glacier Country.

You can walk to the base of Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and get within about 750m of the terminal face, but if you want to get closer and explore the glacier on foot, you will need to do a guided glacier hike. You used to be able to access the glaciers via the valley floor, but it's no longer safe due to severe flooding in 2019.

The weather at high elevations at Fox Glacier is unpredictable and can change quickly. Bring plenty of warm layers, a pair of sturdy hiking boots and comfortable clothing that will see you through long days of walking and hiking. A warm fleece and a waterproof/windproof jacket are also essential - it rains a lot! If you’re doing a heli-hike experience, your tour leader will provide you with suitable socks, boots and crampons so you don’t need to worry about those.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid