In the town of Fox Glacier it is painfully obvious that there is something amazing near by. Tour companies abound dotting the main street and small hotels and hostles the side streets. There are a few hikes you can do without a guide so we decided to get on them. A short drive to the end of the road through a temperate rain forest and suddenly a field of rocks is revealed at the bottom of a deep valley. Up the trail we go, a short hike leads past many waterfalls and to a steep incline. A quick hop skip and jump and there it is… Fox Glacier. A huge mound of ice slowly carving its way down to the sea through the lush forest. All of this capped by snow covered peaks and valley walls. After standing in awe one realizes why you pay for a tour, this is as close as you can get without a guide… 450 meters… Any closer and you need someone to keep you alive…. So after looking for a moment or two it’s back down the trail to the car and off again.
Down the glacier access road and back to the highway to access glacier view road. Off to the end of that road and down a short rain forest trail to another amazing view! From here you get some amazing pictures and a great hike through the rain forest. If I had to do it again I’d get a guide and get up close with the glacier… Maybe next time…..
