Wellington - Greymouth - Queenstown

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Day 3 : Greymouth to Fox Glacier

Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.

	Travel Time	Km	(Miles)
Greymouth - Hokitika	0.5 hr	40	25
Hokitika - Franz Josef	1.75 hrs	133	83
Franz Josef - Fox Glacier	0.25 hr	23	14
Totals for Day	2.5 hrs	196	123

Greymouth - Hokitika

40 km (25 miles)
Approximately 0.5 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

Greymouth has a long gold mining history. It's the largest town on the west coast and is known for its awesome seascapes. The local brewery runs tours or you can catch up with west coast history at the museum. White water rafting, sea kayaking and gold panning are other things to do.

The road between Hokitika and Greymouth provides great views of the wild west coast. Detour to the beach and breathe the salt spray air. Driftwood is the ornamentation of choice for west coast beaches—every shape, size and colour.

Shantytown, just south of Greymouth, is a reconstructed 1880s gold rush town—great family entertainment.

Hokitika was first settled in 1860, after the discovery of gold on the west coast. It still has the feel of a ‘frontier town’, and there are some lovely old buildings to admire.

Greenstone (NZ jade) is the town's treasure these days—you can see it being polished and sculpted. You might also want to pan for gold, investigate the museum and do the historical walk.

Hokitika - Franz Josef

133 km (83 miles)
Approximately 1.75 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway

First explored in 1865, the Franz Josef Glacier has been moving forward at a rate of about one metre a day since 1985. Previously it was in retreat. You can walk to the terminal of the glacier in about 10 minutes. Franz Josef township has a good range of accommodation and eating establishments.

The road to Hokitika is rural, but with a wild streak. The farmland is trying to turn back into forest, and the beauty of the rivers is raw and primeval.

A visit to the White Heron colony near Whataroa is a rare experience. You could also enjoy a picnic by the shores of Lake Ianthe or discover the goldfield walkway at Ross.

Hokitika was first settled in 1860, after the discovery of gold on the west coast. It still has the feel of a ‘frontier town’, and there are some lovely old buildings to admire.

Greenstone (NZ jade) is the town's treasure these days—watch it being carved. Other entertainment options include the museum and the historical town walk.

Franz Josef - Fox Glacier

23 km (14 miles)
Approximately 0.25 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are unique relics of the last ice age. Mighty rivers of solid white, tumbling down ice-hewn rock valleys, they are classically beautiful in the glacial sense. Nowhere else in the world have glaciers advanced so close to the sea at this latitude. While in the area, you can choose from a wide range of adventure activities (mostly involving glaciers and mountains).

After a short drive south, you'll arrive at Fox Glacier. The glacier's terminal face is just five kilometres from the township, and the road to the walking track crosses ancient moraine from earlier advances and retreats. Fed by four alpine glaciers, Fox Glacier was named after an early New Zealand Prime Minister, William Fox.

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