Franz Josef Glacier is one of the easiest glaciers to visit in New Zealand, with a short and clear walk to a great lookout point. You can park at the main car park at the end of Franz Josef Glacier Road, just a few minutes from the town. From there, the track is about 30 minutes each way and follows a wide gravel path through the valley before reaching the viewing area, where you can see the glacier sitting between the mountains.

You cannot walk onto the glacier from this track for safety reasons, but the view is still impressive and gives a real sense of how powerful the landscape is. The weather can change fast here, so bring a rain jacket and good shoes.