Welcome to Glacier Country Tours & Kayaks

Visitors to Franz Josef and Fox glaciers experience a variety of landscapes, from the dramatic alpine environment of the Southern Alps and glaciers, to Westland's scenic wetlands and rugged coastline.

Our inspiring kayak tour offers a unique experience where you will paddle through a protected habitat with panoramic views of the glaciers and mountains. Weather is a feature of our tour - sandwiched between mountains and sea, Lake Mapourika, has its own micro-climate which enhances the ambience of the experience. With all equipment provided and our expert paddling advice, you should remain warm and dry on your eco-tour.

Leaving from Jetty Bay, the guided half day tour takes you across the glacial lake past rain forest and imposing vertical walls of glacial moraine. You then paddle through the pristine environment of the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary and 900-year-old kahikatea trees.

In the morning, when there is generally little wind, our hassle-free kayak tours glide across the surface of the lake which mirrors the surrounding landscape and, on a good day, you can see views of Mount Cook, Mount Tasman and 14 glaciers, including Franz Josef Glacier.

After lunch, a coastal sea breeze ruffles the surface of the lake, making our afternoon scenic tours a little more adventurous, with the bonus of dramatic light change and cloud formations sweeping across the highest peaks of the Southern Alps.

The opportunities for photographers are endless- an image of the lake even features as a Windows screensaver! For those who don't want to carry cameras, we take high quality digital photographs of your kayaking adventure for you to take away free of charge.

If you have some experience of fresh water or sea kayaking, you can rent a kayak and have your own eco-adventure. Or check out the Heli-hike Paddle package which also includes a helicopter flight and hike on the magnificent glacier. And don't forget- if it's raining in Franz Josef village, it can often be fine on Lake Mapourika- so don't be put off and ask us about weather conditions on the lake.

Our experienced guides will ensure your guided eco-adventure tour on the South Island's West Coast is informative, safe and memorable. Your comfort and enjoyment are our priorities!

And there's more!

Funky music, great company and coffee- all in our recycled Bedford Red Bus at our HQ at Franz Josef.