Fox Glacier

Lake Matheson at Dawn - Worth the Early Rise

Lake Matheson is the big one here. The mirror reflection of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps is genuinely ridiculously good on the right day. But it's prime tour bus country, so if you sleep in you'll be walking behind a wall of people with phones held up in front of them. Get up at sparrows fart, seriously. It's a completely different place before the crowds arrive. If you miss the dawn window, Lake Gault is a quieter alternative a short turnoff away - the walk isn't as good but you'll have the space to actually breathe.

The Glacier Hike Situation

Honestly, if you're planning your glacier viewpoint hike around Fox, I'd temper expectations. The free hike to the Fox viewpoint was pretty underwhelming last time I was there - the glacier had retreated so far back it was almost out of sight. Franz Josef is the better pick for free hikes that get you close. That said, scenic flights and heli-hikes are good from both towns, and the RANKERS promo code gets you a discount on glacier tours on the ice if that's more your speed. The scenic helicopter options out of the area are also covered by RANKERS - worth a look if you're doing a flight.

After Dark and After Dinner

Two things people often skip here that they shouldn't. The Minnehaha Glowworm Walk is short and genuinely sweet - hold off until it's properly dark and it's a nice little surprise. And Betsy Jane Eatery is one of the best places to eat on the whole West Coast, which is saying something given the general food situation out here. If you're staying the night, the Top 10 Holiday Park is well set up and a solid base for all of it.