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The Franz Josef Glacier is located about 6 km from the Franz Josef Top 10 Holiday park. You are most welcome to drive to the carpark at the end of the Glacier access road.From the carpark area there are a number of walks. About 20 minutes walk will bring you to the first view of the Glacier. You can then walk on through the riverbed until about 250 meters before the Glacier. ( Weather dependant).If you want to go on the Glacier pass the warning signs then you need to book a Guided tour.
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Julius von Haast, geologist and explorer, named Franz Josef Glacier in 1863, after the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Approximately 7000 years old, and a remnant of a much older and larger glacier which originally swept right to the sea, Franz Josef Glacier extends 12 kilometres from its three feeder glaciers in the high snow fields of the Alps. Today the terminal face is a mere 19 kilometres from the sea and just 5 kilometres from the township.
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Maori Legend
Early Maori called this place Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere - The Tears of the Avalanche Girl (Hinehukatere).
Hinehukatere loved climbing in the mountains and persuaded her lover, Tawe, to climb with her. Tawe fell from the peaks to his death. Hinehukatere was broken hearted and her many, many tears froze to form the glacier. |
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PETERS POOL TRACK
The track entrance is signposted in the main glacier carpark, 4.5 km up the glacier access road. The track starts on a river fan covered in shrub forest approximately 40 years old. Mountain holly, tree daisy, tutu and three finger grow here. The track climbs gently to Peters Pool, which is a kettle lake formed by ice melting amongst glacial moraine about 1800AD. The spectacular view at Peters Pool includes Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere, and the Fritz Range, including Mt Moltke and Mt Roon. |
Franz Josef Top 10 Holiday Park, 2902 Franz Josef Highway, New Zealand
Ph: +64 3 752 0735 | Fax: +64 3 752 0035 | Email: bookings@mountain-view.co.nz
Reservations freephone 0800 467 897 or see our Bookings page
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