Franz Josef Scenic Cruise & Guided Rainforest Walk

The Franz Josef Scenic Cruise and Guided Rainforest Walk combines two formats in one booking: a boat cruise across a glacially fed lake and a guided walk through temperate rainforest on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Franz Josef sits within Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage area covering roughly 2.6 million hectares of glaciers, fiords, and ancient forest.

On the cruise, guides cover the geology of the surrounding peaks and the retreat history of Franz Josef Glacier. The rainforest walk passes through podocarp and kahikatea forest, with guides pointing out native bird species including kea and kererū. Tickets cover both the cruise and the guided walk, with departures typically running in the morning and afternoon. See the full range of Franz Josef attractions for additional activities in the area.