Fox Glacier, also known as Te Moeka o Tuawe, is a 13-kilometre-long glacier in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on New Zealand's South Island. It is the third largest glacier in New Zealand, narrowly beating the more popular 11km glacier, Franz Josef Glacier.

The Fox Glacier was named after New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Sir William Fox, in 1872.  However, it holds deep cultural significance for Māori, who have lived in this region for centuries before European settlers arrived. According to Māori legend, Fox Glacier (Te Moeka o Tuawe, meaning "the bed of Tuawe") is named after the Māori warrior Tuawe, who tragically fell to his death here while climbing with his lover, Hinehukatere. Her grief-stricken tears were said to have formed the Franz Josef Glacier (Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere), while Fox Glacier became his final resting place.

How to get to Fox Glacier

The village is on State Highway 6 and is 158km, 2 hours by car from Hokitika, and 262km, 3 hours and 15 minutes by car from Wānaka. It is also just 25 minutes away from Franz Josef Glacier, so it's possible to see both glaciers on the same day! If you plan on staying in Glacier Country, I recommend staying in Franz Josef on the West Coast, as it's a larger town with more accommodation options, shops, etc.

The best ways to see Fox Glacier

1. If you have money to spend and are looking for the experience of a lifetime, the Twin Glacier flight is a 30-minute aerial tour over Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier. It offers gobsmacking views of the rugged ice formations and mountain landscapes below.

2. When we visited, we were on a budget and instead opted to do the 6.4km return walk to the Fox Glacier viewing platform. It's an easy walk that takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, winding through the ancient podocarp rainforest with stunning views of the surrounding areas.