Franz or Fox?
March 13th, 2008 by Tiffany Miller
That is the question.
Backpackers are constantly debating over which is better. When you are travelling on a budget, this kind of decision can be hard to make. If you can’t see both, which one should you choose?
I am of the opinion that once you have seen one glacier in the Southern Alps, you have seen them all. I mean, essentially, they are the same thing: massive blocks of ice surrounded by pretty mountains. Fox Glacier may be a bit larger than Franz Josef, but you can’t really tell since the size of the glacier causes an optical illusion and regardless of square metre-age, you will stand on both of them in awe of their immensity. Fox also claims to have less of an incline to climb up. But let me tell you, after your 800th step in those boots, you might as well take a few more because you will be spending the next few days on your a*se.
Both have excellent guides, both have postcard views, and both offer the chance to walk through ice tunnels and peer inside cravasses. The two things you need to decide on are price and location.
Fox Glacier is a bit cheaper. It just is. It doesn’t mean it is any less quality. Perhaps Franz Josef just has a more recognizable name. Its like wearing a designer shirt when the cheaper generic brand would be just as comfortable.
Fox is also a quieter town. There is only one backpackers, and it is good, but a bit more laid back than some of the hostels in Franz Josef. There is a bit more nightlife in Franz Josef, and a better supermarket… just more facilities in general. But Fox has the incredibly beautiful and easily accessible Lake Matheson, which is best early in the morning or at sunset. I think it is worth staying in Fox just to see this lake. It takes about an hour to walk around it, but you may want to add a half-hour or so for photo-snapping….
So decide which town suits you, and do it. It is a very rewarding and very good value trip to take while on the South Island. Whichever one you choose, it will be a trip you will always remember.
Leave a Reply