Billy Connolly Drives New Zealand

Day 16: Queenstown to Franz Josef

On this page: Travel time:   Km/Miles Queenstown - Wanaka 1.25 hrs  103/64 Wanaka - Haast 1.75 hrs  139/87 Haast - Fox Glacier 1.75 hrs  122/76 Fox Glacier - Franz Josef 0.25 hr  23/14   Totals for Day 5 hrs  387/242

Queenstown - Wanaka - Haast - Fox Glacier - Franz Josef

The alpine resort of Queenstown is exciting, sophisticated and fantastically scenic. It’s the place to source almost any kind of adventure, including bungy, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting and river surfing. It’s also a destination for luxury experiences – gourmet food and wine, spa treatments and leisurely games of golf.

The shortest route to Wanaka is over the Crown Range Road. It’s a challenging drive, but the views are amazing and you’ll probably encounter friendly keas (mountain parrots). More conservative drivers can take the route that runs beside the Shotover River, Lake Dunstan and the Clutha River. The vineyards of the Gibbston area and bungy jumpers at the Kawarau River Bridge are interesting distractions along the way.

The lakeside resort town of Wanaka can provide you with an appealing mix of fine living, family fun and adventure. It has a high concentration of cafes, restaurants and interesting shops. You’ll also find some unique attractions, like the 3D maze and the ‘warbird’ air show, which is held every two years.

Scenic Highlights

Sam Summers' Hut Track
Exercise your mind as well as your legs on this three hour loop track. There's a lot to be learned about gold mining here.

Kidds Bush
A splendid place for a picnic or a couple of days camping, Kidds Bush lets you enjoy the incredible beauty of Lake Hawea.

Skippers Road
High above the raging Shotover River, Skippers Road creeps along the face of Skippers Canyon. Don't look down!

Scenery of Glenorchy
The only thing better than the drive to Glenorchy is the road to Paradise. How much scenery can your camera cope with?

Gibbston Valley vineyards
Raising grapes this far south is hard work, but one sip of the local pinot noir will tell you the effort is totally worthwhile.

Lake Wakatipu
Cruising across Lake Wakatipu on a restored paddlesteamer is a blissful way to appreciate the magnificent alpine scenery.

Moonlight Track
It's not a walk in the park, but this challenging day hike promises to lift your spirits as high as the Southern Alps.

Lakes Wanaka and Hawea
Framed by mountains, these glacier-carved lakes can be enjoyed from the water or by hiking shoreline tracks.

The Crown Range
There are two ways to drive between Queenstown and Wanaka, and this one is the most memorable. It's the highest main road in New Zealand.

Rob Roy Glacier Track
Walk into the alpine zone beneath Mount Rob Roy. This half day on-foot adventure brings you face to face with active glaciers.

Clutha River walk
The immense Clutha River handles the outflow from Lake Wanaka. Walk the riverbank to Albert Town and enjoy the peaceful scenery.

Cardrona Valley
The road along Cardrona Valley can take you to all kinds of active adventures or a great meal at the historic hotel.

Mount Iron and Mount Roy
Mount Iron and Mount Roy are two hiking challenges that will reward you with astounding views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountain ranges.

Lindis Pass
This alpine area of tall, tussock-covered mountains is beautiful in every season, but with a dusting of snow it's particularly enchanting.

Activities

Queenstown
Bungy (1), Horse Treks (4), Jet Boating (4), Off Road Driving Adventure (6), Scenic Flights (8)

Lake Wanaka
Heliskiing (2)

Tour and Sightseeing

Queenstown
Off Road Driving Adventure (4), Scenic Flights (2)

Tour and Sightseeing

Lake Wanaka
Wineries (5)

Queenstown - Wanaka - Haast - Fox Glacier - Franz Josef

The lakeside town of Wanaka can provide you with an appealing mix of fine living, family fun and adventure. It has a high concentration of cafes, restaurants and interesting shops. You’ll also find unique attractions, like the 3D maze and the ‘warbird’ air show, which is held every two years.

Lake Hawea is the first scenic highlight of your journey, followed closely by the northern end of Lake Wanaka. The famous ‘bra fence’ is impossible to miss – it started as a joke, but it’s become a local legend. At the wilderness town of Makarora you can fuel up and refresh before you take on the dramatic twists and turns of the Haast Pass. Enjoy waterfalls and river scenery as you arrive in rainforest country.

The settlement of Haast was once a construction camp for the Ministry of Works (the government department responsible for road and bridge building). It’s a town with a touch of the wild west – helicopters fly deer hunters into the rugged ranges and local pubs make a feature of stuffed animal trophies.

Scenic Highlights

Kidds Bush
A splendid place for a picnic or a couple of days camping, Kidds Bush lets you enjoy the incredible beauty of Lake Hawea.

Mount Aspiring National Park
Stretch your legs and feed your soul in this remote wilderness of native forests, towering mountains and long river valleys.

Lakes Wanaka and Hawea
Framed by mountains, these glacier-carved lakes can be enjoyed from the water or by hiking shoreline tracks.

The Crown Range
There are two ways to drive between Queenstown and Wanaka, and this one is the most memorable. It's the highest main road in New Zealand.

Haast Pass
Allow plenty of time for the journey over Haast Pass to the coast. Many short walks begin at the road's edge, leading you through rainforest to fabulous waterfalls.

Rob Roy Glacier Track
Walk into the alpine zone beneath Mount Rob Roy. This half day on-foot adventure brings you face to face with active glaciers.

Clutha River walk
The immense Clutha River handles the outflow from Lake Wanaka. Walk the riverbank to Albert Town and enjoy the peaceful scenery.

Cardrona Valley
The road along Cardrona Valley can take you to all kinds of active adventures or a great meal at the historic hotel.

Mount Iron and Mount Roy
Mount Iron and Mount Roy are two hiking challenges that will reward you with astounding views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountain ranges.

Lindis Pass
This alpine area of tall, tussock-covered mountains is beautiful in every season, but with a dusting of snow it's particularly enchanting.

Jackson Bay fishing village
Explore a part of New Zealand that's splendidly isolated - there are more resident seals and penguins than people.

Activities

Lake Wanaka
Jet Boating (2), Skiing (7), Snowboarding (4)

Tour and Sightseeing

Lake Wanaka
Skiing (1)

Queenstown - Wanaka - Haast - Fox Glacier - Franz Josef

The settlement of Haast was once a construction camp for the Ministry of Works (the government department responsible for road and bridge building). It’s a town with a touch of the wild west – helicopters fly deer hunters into the rugged ranges and local pubs make a feature of stuffed animal trophies.

Just north of Haast is Lake Moeraki, a peaceful forest lake with good fishing – a 40 minute walk takes you to the penguin colony at Monro Beach. Next is pretty Lake Paringa, where you can enjoy a delicious meal of salmon at the salmon farm. Just before Fox Glacier is the western end of the Copland track. In half a day you can walk to the hot springs at Welcome Flat.

The terminal face of Fox Glacier is just 5 kilometres from the township that serves it. The road to the walking track crosses ancient moraine from earlier advances and retreats. Fox Glacier was named after an early New Zealand Prime Minister, William Fox.

Scenic Highlights

Mount Aspiring National Park
Stretch your legs and feed your soul in this remote wilderness of native forests, towering mountains and long river valleys.

Haast Pass
Allow plenty of time for the journey over Haast Pass to the coast. Many short walks begin at the road's edge, leading you through rainforest to fabulous waterfalls.

Lake Matheson
Take a short walk to Lake Matheson and capture the perfect photograph of snow-capped Mount Cook reflected in the dark waters.

Jackson Bay fishing village
Explore a part of New Zealand that's splendidly isolated - there are more resident seals and penguins than people.

West Coast glaciers
Witness the puzzle of huge valleys of ice that extend well below the snowline, almost to the sea. Here the ice age is still underway.

Activities

West Coast
Scenic Flights (7), Walking/Trekking (3)

Tour and Sightseeing

West Coast
Scenic Flights (1), Walking/Trekking (4)

Queenstown - Wanaka - Haast - Fox Glacier - Franz Josef

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.

The terminal face of Fox Glacier is just 5 kilometres from the township that serves it. 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.

After a short drive north, you’ll arrive at Franz Josef Glacier. First explored in 1865, the glacier has been moving forward at a rate of about 1 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.

Scenic Highlights

Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Release your inner explorer in a pristine national park that offers a wide selection of tempting terrain.

Lake Matheson
Take a short walk to Lake Matheson and capture the perfect photograph of snow-capped Mount Cook reflected in the dark waters.

Okarito lagoon - wading bird paradise
Take a kayak or a guided tour to explore New Zealand's largest unmodified estuarine lagoon - home to more than 70 bird species, including the beautiful kotuku (white heron).

West Coast glaciers
Witness the puzzle of huge valleys of ice that extend well below the snowline, almost to the sea. Here the ice age is still underway.

Activities

West Coast
Caving (2)

Tour and Sightseeing

West Coast
Caving (1), Climbing (1)