Fox Glacier Tours & Holidays

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 self-driving or joining a tour. You can drive to Fox Glacier Village on State Highway 6 from Hokitika (2 hours), Wanaka (3.5 hours) or 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 all of the scenic 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.

We believe travel should be accessible to everyone. Although some destinations and itineraries may be more accessible than others, we'll do our best to accommodate your needs, make reasonable adjustments where possible or guide you toward the most suitable trips. Get in touch with our friendly adventure consultants to chat about your options.

Our Tailor-Made team can also help you plan a customised trip just for you.