4WD Tours
2 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 97% of travellers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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$102
per adult
Franz Josef Wilderness Tours
Franz Josef Wilderness Tours
5
4WD, ATV & Off-Road ToursBoat ToursFishing Charters & ToursStand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
Explore further in Franz Josef Glacier... Kayak Tours, Boat Cruises & Off-Road Adventure tours in Franz Josef Glacier. We're an 100% locally owned and operated family business in Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast of NZ's South Island. On Lake Mapourika experience amazing panoramic views of the glaciers and southern alps relfected onto mirror-like water amongst some of Westland's oldest untouched rainforest! Fish for Brown trout or Wild Salmon and enjoy a Scenic Cruise with amazing landscape & birdlife viewing. Join an off-road adventure tour to experience Franz Josef's ultimate wet weather activity or on a sunny day enjoy spectacular views of the Franz Josef Glacier from afar. FREE photos with each tour.
Franz Josef, New Zealand
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2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Franz Josef Wilderness Tours
Adventure Tours
3 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$145
$116
per adult
Water Tours
2 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 94% of travellers
94% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$120
per adult
Fishing Charters
3 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 90% of travellers
90% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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$195
per adult
Nature and Wildlife Tours
2–3 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$149
per adult
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
1,454 reviews
Excellent
1,321
Very good
93
Average
29
Poor
6
Terrible
5
Divyabajaj1991@gmail.com
Mumbai, India13 contributions
Jan 2020
We visited Lake Mapourika for Kayaking with the Glacier Country Kayaks - they are the only company in Franz Josef to kayak with. We chose to go on the sunset kayaking slot and were lucky enough to be the only ones in that group - we saw some stunning scenes - the view of the mountains and the lake were absolutely beautiful. Our guide was both fun and informative. She also took some lovely pictures of us. We had a great evening.
PS: Do remember to carry some insect repellent as there were SEVERAL sandflies and their bites can be quite terrible.
PS: Do remember to carry some insect repellent as there were SEVERAL sandflies and their bites can be quite terrible.
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review!
A private tour! Nice! We are please to hear you enjoyed your time out on the lake with us.
Safe travels,
Teana
Written 13 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stewart A
Wickham Bishops, UK5 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We like to push the boundaries a little without scaring ourselves to death. Two years ago ebiking through the dunes of the Namib desert- this year quad biking through rainforest and braided rivers. What these quad bikes can do is nothing short of amazing and I would not have believed it if the guide in front hadn't shown us the way. Fantastic fun and wonderful views of the river, the mountains and helicopters. Perfect for an afternoon of fun. The guides Olivia and George were great.
Written 8 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi 569stewarta,
Our bikes sure can handle quite a lot!
Thank you for taking the time to give us this great review,
-The Quad Bike Team
Written 27 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EPTA38
6 contributions
Jan 2022 • Family
We did the fabulous 3-hour kayak at Lake Mapourika as family (4 people, 2 kids aged 14 and 10). It was a great morning, very well-run with a great guide who was extremely knowledgeable about the area. The views of the mountains were spectacular. Paddling up the creek across the other side of the lake was fun and we saw several white herons up close. A very chilled way to spend a morning and see more of the area.
Written 4 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review! We are very lucky to have all the beautiful Kotuku feeding out on the lake at the moment!
Safe travels,
Teana
Written 5 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alison2701
Christchurch, New Zealand22 contributions
Dec 2021
Such a fantastic 2hr guided Kayak trip !! The guides (Ky and Ula) were super friendly, knowledgeable and helpful even to the point that they brought our booking forward a few hours so we could get the best possible conditions. After paddling across the lake we skirted the rainforest past a headland before venturing up a creek to really get amongst the wonderful native bush. The Kotuku we saw fishing are the most beautiful birds.We had an amazing time and cant recommend this trip highly enough 11/10 x
Written 26 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to recommend us! The Kotuku sure are the most beautiful birds, we are every lucky to have them come out and feed on the lake.
Safe travels,
Teana
Written 2 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Josh Bennison
1 contribution
Jan 2020
I recently did a boat tour with glacier country kayaks, It was absolutely amazing. Our guide Dale is a local legend, he worked on the glacier before working/ running glacier country kayaks so his knowledge on the west coast is outstanding. We enjoyed a nice hot coffee on the boat while Dale shared stories and knowledge on the lake, glaciers, Flora, fauna and much more. The highlight for me was learning about the Maori culture in New Zealand and on the west coast. The whole trip from start to finish was a wonderful experience, this was definitely the highlight of my trip while in New Zealand. If you want to kick back, relax, take in the views and knowledge then this is the trip for you! I highly recommend it.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
Thanks for leaving Dale such a detailed review!
It's great to hear your experience with us was a highlight of your travels! Dale is full of local knowledge so its great to hear you enjoyed all of his facts and information!
Safe travels,
Teana
Written 6 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patricia M
Rotorua, New Zealand14 contributions
Apr 2021
Really enjoyed this boat trip and bush walk with Dale who is very personable and obviously enjoys his job, he gave us a full commentary both on the lake and in the forest, so that we learnt so much about the area and the bush. This trip is good for rain(boat fully enclosed) too. We enjoyed a cup of tea and biscuit after our walk, and on the way back we’re very fortunate to see a Kotuku (white heron) enjoying some time on the lake edge. Thankyou Dale.
Written 13 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Patricia
Thanks for your great review, we really appreciate it! Dale's really passionate about what he does, and glad to hear it shows on his trips :) Hope to see you again sometime in the future!
Kind regards
Bronwyn & Dale
Written 14 April 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GCkayaker
2 contributions
Jan 2021
The Sunset Classic Kayak tour was amazing with breathtaking scenery, up close paddling along the untouched rainforest shores and must be seen to be believed reflections in the lake. All enjoyed with our expert guide. Take the opportunity to experience this incredible tour.
Written 29 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi GCkayaker,
Thanks for the awesome review!
It is truely spectacular out there at that time of day.
We hope to get you out again sometime!
Cheers,
Dale
Written 2 February 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PrincessOdette
3 contributions
Nov 2020
We had a brilliant 3 and a half hour kayak on Lake Mapourika with Dale and Jake. It was pouring with rain, and we were surrounded by mist which only added to the experience and beauty. There were 17 of us in the group and we were provided with the full outer gear so we managed to kept warm and relatively dry. Best tip was to bring a full change of dry clothes including sox and shoes for afterwards. Loved it!
Written 22 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review!
We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your time out on the lake in the rain with us in true West Coast style.
We hope you enjoy the rest of your travels.
Kind regards,
Teana
Written 23 December 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jgsSydney_Australia
Sydney, Australia103 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
We took the Classic Kayak tour on Lake Mapourika with Ariel as our guide, and although it is a group tour we were the only couple booked. We had a 9am start and the lake was perfectly still with a beautiful mist that quickly burnt off. We crossed the lake and then explored Mirror Creek with its glassy waters- just beautiful. Ariel gave us so much information about Māori tradition, as well as local flora and fauna. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and would highly recommend this company. The office staff also gave us great advice on walks in the area, so we were able to plan our whole short stay through our visit to them.
Written 14 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review!
Sounds like you had a stunning morning out on the lake! We're glad Ariel was able to share all his wonderful knowledge with you. Thanks again for recommending us!
Safe travels,
Teana
Written 19 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carolyn A
Auckland Central, New Zealand30 contributions
Sept 2020 • Friends
Had the best quad bike tour with Sarah and Brendan. A real mix of terrains with a beautiful backdrop of the mountain. We both took a bike each and would recommend that. Well recommended even if you have quad bike experience as the team split the group so didn’t feel we will held up by less experienced or slower drivers and they weren’t forced to go faster than they wanted.
Written 9 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are extremely lucky to have a amazing area to play in with diverse terrain and with a stunning backdrop of the Southern Alps and Glacier.
We also recommend taking a bike each and we do put another guide on the tour if there are different capability levels, purely for customer enjoyment.
Thanks so much for the awesome review, it means a lot to us.
Written 10 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi, we are 5 adults, the 4 has no kayak experience, only 1 has minimum experience. We will be travelling in mid-Aug. Will there be still tours and will it be very cold?
Written 1 April 2018
GlacierLakeTours
Franz Josef, New Zealand
Hi,
Yes we operate tours all year around. With your level of experience I would recommend booking the Discovery Kayak this is our shorter tour of 1.5 hours and is great for beginner kayakers.
In August it will still be cold, nearing the end of winter. We recommend wearing 2-3 warm layers on our tours and we will also provide some layers to keep you dry.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.
Kind regards,
The Glacier Kayaks Team.
Written 9 May 2018
We plan to come there in mid to late November. Would that be a good time to kayak the lake? Does it ever get to windy to comfortably paddle on it?
Written 8 September 2017
Hi, around that time of year is a nice time to go kayaking on the lake. for the calmest times of day I would recommend a morning tour or our sunset tours as this is when the wind is generally the lightest. I hope this helps and if you have any other questions please do not hesitate to get in touch. Dale
Written 8 September 2017
hi I will be coming with a group of 5, can we share kayaks as my mum would not be able to paddle for long? also are there any issues with the water being too icy?
Written 15 June 2017
Hi Shreya,
With a group of 5 your mother will likely end up paddling with the guide in a double kayak and we will pair up the rest of your group into our stable double kayaks. That way it's perfectly fine if she doesn't paddle much!
During the winter here on the coast we experience our calmest and most settled weather, which is surprisingly temperate as well. There will definitely not be any ice on the water, and we'll do our very best to keep you completely dry during the trip.
We hope to see you on the lake with us this winter!
Bronwyn
Written 23 June 2017
Hi, can I play kayaking if I am not able to swim?
Written 31 March 2017
Hi Joann,
You don't need to be able to swim to come kayaking with us. You will be provided with a life jacket and there will always be a guide with the group.
Please don't hesitate to ask if there should be any other questions!
Regards, Izzy
Written 31 March 2017
I have never kayaked before. Is that okay? We ard planning to come in September and I really want this experience.
Written 24 January 2017
Hey there! Thanks for your message. That is absolutely fine. Our guides are top notch, and will do everything they can to ensure that you are comfortable and have the best experience possible. We would love to have you come paddle with us!
Written 24 January 2017
How far in advance should we book tours if we are planning on coming in early February 2017? We are concerned we might get bad weather if we book too far in advance.
Written 26 November 2016
Hi Stephanie,
As your travel date falls into the busiest time of the season it is recommended to book in advance, to secure your spot on your preferred date and time. The weather over here can not really be predicted until really close to the date, as it changes quickly and often. For us there is no bad weather. We go out shine or rain and provide you all the gear you need (Raincoats, pants, hats, ...) to stay as dry as possible.
Don't hesitate to ask if there should be more questions.
Regards,
Izzy and your Glacier Country Kayaks Team
Written 27 November 2016
Hi there, Yes we can take children of all ages with us. It is always recommended that young children partake in either a 9 am morning tour or on a Sunset paddle in the evening as the lake is the calmest at these times of day. You can check availability and book online on our website.
We hope to see you on the lake this summer!
Written 9 January 2015
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