Cron street

The Glacier Is the Thing

Cron Street is right in the heart of Franz Josef township, and the glacier is why you're here. It's retreating fast and the section that still dips down into the rainforest is genuinely rare in the world. I keep saying this to people but it bears repeating: we probably have a decade or so left to experience a glacier within a rainforest setting. That's not hype, that's just the reality. Lap it up while you can. Glacier Valley Eco Tours is a solid way in if you want some guidance on the ground.

Get Up the Mountain on Foot

For the free glacier views, Franz is better than Fox Glacier. The Roberts Point Track is the one I'd do first. First part is easy and has a great mirror lake moment at Pete's Pool about 10 minutes in. Worth an early start just for that. Then it changes personality after the swingbridge and gets steep and slippery. Not for little kids, but the close-up glacier viewpoint at the top is really worth the effort. Alex Knob is the more distant viewpoint and a solid grunt, less interesting to me but less busy too.

Get in the Air if the Sky is Clear

Scenic flights and heli-hikes are a big deal here. The mountains are steep and the confines are tight, which makes the flight super dramatic. As a general rule, the mountain tops stay clear until late morning when thermals kick in and clouds gather, then clear again late in the day. So don't book a morning flight and sleep in. The RANKERS promo code gets you a discount on scenic flights and helicopter flights out of Franz. Worth stacking that against what is already a top-shelf cost. If you want to go all in, there's even a skydive option from the area.

After Dark and After the Walk

Once you're done with the big stuff, the Tunnels walk is a fun random pick. About 1.5 hours return and you need a head torch. You'll get wet feet and the tunnel is around 400 metres long. There are glowworms in there and on a busy day at Lake Matheson, we had the tunnels almost entirely to ourselves. The Orange Sheep campervan park is a handy base in town. And after a big day on the tracks, the RANKERS promo code also covers a soak in the hot tub nearby, which feels very well earned.