Eco Tours
3–4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 93% of travellers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$90
per adult
Glacier Valley Eco Tours
Glacier Valley Eco Tours
Glacier Valley Eco Tours
5
8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
Glacier Valley Eco Tours is small local family owner/operator business based in Franz Josef Glacier. We specialise in small informative guided walking tours in and around our Glacier Country NZ. We offer trips to Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers, as well as the iconic Lake Matheson, and Okarito township, as well as full day tours and combo tours. We can tailor trips to suit you. Small group sizes (10 max) and families welcome, no age restriction. We offer nature tours off the beaten path of public tracks in Franz Josef & Fox Glacier, which includes loads of information on geology, glaciology, history, local flora & fauna. We currently have 100% NZ guides who all bring different qualities to our clients experience - they maybe Story Tellers, Geologists, Botonists or Ecologists. We offer free use of our wet weather gear on all our tours, including raincoats, overtrousers, umbrellas, as well as walking poles and boots if required. On all our tours we provide tea, coffee & biscuits.
West Coast Region, New Zealand
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Glacier Valley Eco Tours
Eco Tours
2–3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$90
per adult
Eco Tours
3–4 hours
Taking safety measures
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$90
per adult
Travellers talk about
(35 reviews)
(36 reviews)
(25 reviews)
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5.0
506 reviews
Excellent
451
Very good
48
Average
3
Poor
4
Terrible
0
Storm D
Port Douglas, Australia42 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
I did 4 tours with this company and all 4 were such amazing experiences. I would love to thank Cliff, Jerome and Tyana for making my time in Franz Josef so special and a true highlight of my holiday to New Zealand. I will be sharing your business with all my friends for their travels to New Zealand and I hope to return someday soon too.
Thank you again. You guys are the best.
Thank you again. You guys are the best.
Written 30 November 2023
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.
Alex T
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
Literally 7 stars out of 5 if ever possible! Quality, Immersive, Inspiring, awesome guide Tyana, left us spellbound and eating out of her hand and she's only 20yo! The complement to the scenery was Total ,bordering on Mandatory even if you had 3.5 hrs to spare in Franz Josef. Do NOT miss this!
We were left thrilled and wanting more of the education on the fascinating botany, geology, sustainability, edible plants, glacial history and Tyana's awesome pictogram art on the sand!
If possible choose the longest walk you can get with them as any shorter will leave you craving and in withrawal for more!
We were left thrilled and wanting more of the education on the fascinating botany, geology, sustainability, edible plants, glacial history and Tyana's awesome pictogram art on the sand!
If possible choose the longest walk you can get with them as any shorter will leave you craving and in withrawal for more!
Written 29 November 2023
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.
lukeromaine96
Bristol, UK23 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
I booked onto this tour as part of a Stray tour group. When we first arrived at Franz Josef, we had ambitious plans: skydiving, the heli-hike etc. However, visitors to Franz Josef will soon realise how frequently it rains there - making the chances of doing such activities quite slim. After our initial plans had been cancelled, we booked onto the nature tour knowing the weather was rubbish, but with nothing else on offer that wasn't extremely expensive. I am so glad we did - it was a highlight of my entire holiday in New Zealand. Our tour guide Cliff (cow-boy hat and walking stick to hand) looked the part of a rough-and-ready adventurer taking us on a journey through the mythical landscape of the Fox glacier valley. The rain added to the atmosphere as we ventured off the track through the rainforest, trudging over the mosses and ferns carpeting the ground. The rocky glacier valley itself is spectacular - towering cliffs, colourful boulders, with alpine plants emerging through the cracks. We managed some decent views of the glacier as the clouds rose and we tucked into a biscuit and hot chocolate. Cliff was very knowledgeable and a great laugh.
With everybody wearing their big waterproof coats (provided by the tour company), and Cliff leading us at the front, it felt like we were hobbits following Gandalf through Middle Earth - it was great.
With everybody wearing their big waterproof coats (provided by the tour company), and Cliff leading us at the front, it felt like we were hobbits following Gandalf through Middle Earth - it was great.
Written 28 November 2023
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.
Howard687
Campbell, CA8 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
We had not heard about Glacier Valley Tours but found them on the web. We took the 1/2 day Franz Josef Nature tour and it was wonderful. The guide was very knowledgeable about plants, animals, and the glacier geology and her passion for it all was apparent. She explained how and why things we were seeing developed as they did.
Written 24 November 2023
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.
Mark M
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
The tour gave us a unique experience with an extremely informed guide. We learned so much about the geology and the biology of the beautiful Franz Joseph glacier area. We highly recommend this tour.
Written 21 November 2023
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.
Thanks so much for your great review! much appreciated to our little family company. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in our beautiful part of Aotearoa NZ :)
Written 22 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JazzyS
Sheffield, UK6 contributions
Picked up from local hotel and taken to the main hub. Met our guide and got into the minibus to the glacier with another couple. Tour guide took us up the main path giving us lots of info about the glacier and surrounding area. Also the taken off piste and tried some local edible leaves which we would have never done or known about.
Once reaching the glacier view point we rested with a lovely warm drink prepared by the guide and took in the astonishing sight. After a nice period we returned back to the start where our minibus awaited. All in all a great few hours with a lovely and informative guide. Many thanks to Tianna.
Once reaching the glacier view point we rested with a lovely warm drink prepared by the guide and took in the astonishing sight. After a nice period we returned back to the start where our minibus awaited. All in all a great few hours with a lovely and informative guide. Many thanks to Tianna.
Written 19 November 2023
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.
sounds like you had a great morning, thanks for sharing your experience!!
All the best
Written 22 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jenny M
Sydney, Australia6 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
We did the Okarito nature tour which was a half day one. The walk up to the lookout was quite hilly but very interesting. Cliff pointed out many very small orchids and other plants. We planted a tree in the nature reserve at the end which was a very special experience.
Written 16 November 2023
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.
great thanks so much for your review of our small family company, so glad you enjoyed the walk and tree planting in our beautiful Okarito :)
Written 22 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul V
Edinburgh, UK1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
Jerome's knowledge and enthusiasm was second to none. We spoke about nature,wildlife,geology and all aspects of life. He took us off track through glacial carve outs and we had some edible plants and time spent was thoroughly entertaining. Not to be missed!!
Written 12 November 2023
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.
thanks so much for your great review of our local family company - much appreciated!
Written 22 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Adams12yachtie
Melbourne, Australia58 contributions
Nov 2023
A wonderful walk through the forest surrounding the lake with a most knowledgable guide and companion. The views were amazing at dusk. Thank you, Jerome
Written 12 November 2023
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.
thanks so much for your great review of our little company :)
Written 22 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sharon L
Minneapolis, United States9 contributions
Our guide Tiana was fantastic! So knowledgeable about both the botany of the forest and the geology of the glacier. The views of the glacier were spectacular! She even provided hot beverages and cookies from her knapsack! Highly recommend. (The trail can be quite wet and muddy. Waterproof hiking shoes recommended!)
Written 12 November 2023
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.
Thanks for your great review, much appreciated :)
Written 22 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Infant friendly?
l0vetravel4000
Irvine, CA7 contributions
No. Involves hiking up and down fairly steep trails.
Wannashare
Manchester36 contributions
As we know nothing of the area, could you tell us more about the walk. Is it all up-hill, uneven, suitable/easy for city-dwellers who are mid-60s.
Alison T
Mackay, Australia53 contributions
The main track itself would be okay because it is graded and well maintained but the tour goes off the track. Some sections are uphill and fairly hard going because the ground is lose gravel.
Wannashare
Manchester36 contributions
As we know nothing of the area, could you tell us more about the walk. Is it all up-hill, uneven, suitable/easy for city-dwellers who are mid-60s.
Jill T
Sydney, Australia5 contributions
We are the same age group, also city dwellers - and found the walk quite manageable - Cliff is attentive to how his charges are doing and adjusts as needed.
Holly B
Saint Louis, MO
If we are only able to do one of the glacier valley eco tour guided walks, should we do Fox or Franz Josef?
Holly B
Saint Louis, MO
If we are only able to do one of the glacier valley eco tour guided walks, should we do Fox or Franz Josef?