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Fox Glacier

A glacier pocked with ice caves and surrounded by rainforests.

Fox Glacier, New Zealand

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Allison Meier
View in an ice cave   kirstenandalec/Flickr
View from an ice cave   cesar/Flickr
Inside an ice cave   zakhenry/Flickr
Glacier between the mountains   ajturner/Flickr
Glacier between the mountains   anthonycramp/Flickr
Pool on the glacier   rickcox/Flickr
Peaks on the glacier   traitlinburke/Flickr
View from an ice cave   anoldent/Flickr
Fox Glacier from the viewpoint, January 2018   rachelhw / Atlas Obscura User
Current view of Fox Glacier, as close as you can get hiking in. Still very worth the hike.   Loo / Atlas Obscura User
A more complete view of Fox Glacier from the View Point.   Loo / Atlas Obscura User
  rebogamy / Atlas Obscura User
  janenearing / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The 8.1 miles of the Fox Glacier in New Zealand's Westland Tai Poutini National Park form an ever-transforming terrain of ice caves and glacial terminal that is bordered on all sides by rainforests and mountains. 

Along with its neighbor Franz Josef Glacier, it's one of the world's most accessible glaciers for exploring, and regular guided tours are available. The glacier has been advancing since 1985 after decades of retreating, and with all the movement and melting stunning ice caves have been revealed. 

However, gorgeous as it is, solo wandering is not allowed as there is a danger of ice breaks and rockfalls that in the past have proved fatal.

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Glaciers Ice Caves Natural Wonders Nature

Know Before You Go

You must take a tour; you can not access it without either flying on a plane that can land on ice or land with helicopter. The hike to the viewing point is easy and it's still impressive. Highly recommended is a better view of the glacier via the Viewing Point, past the carpark.

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Published

December 11, 2013

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