The Ice Caves of the Majestic Fox Glacier.

A journey in hostile territory where the subtropical forests surround mountains and glaciers.

In the 19th century, the thirst for gold attract prospectors, but the climate is so difficult that mines are soon abandoned to vegetation.

The humidity is such that the foam covers the trees to the branches.

Five meters of rain falls a year and even Maori warriors do not venture into this green hell.

Today, the region is still sparsely inhabited, but the Westland National Park is very popular.

Thousands of tourists come to admire the Fox Glacier which takes its source in the eternal snow.

The giant of ice stretches on 13 km and moves at a rate of a meter per day, devouring the rock in the process. Its uniqueness is to almost reach sea level, making it very accessible.

We will follow an itinerary in the forest before joining the Ice Caves. We will also need a mountain guide to lead us safely into the heart of the glacier.

This hike requires a minimum fitness, but remains open to everyone, including the youngest. If you thirst for adventure and have energy to spare, it's time to conquer the Fox Glacier in New Zealand!

The Tasman Sea (a few kilometers from the village) gave the nickname "Coasters" to the local inhabitants.

Very welcoming, they often defy the bans of liquor sales after 6pm, and make fun of bureaucrats from the capital. But I advise saving the beers for the return trip.

The “Nimble Fox" hike is organized by Fox Glacier Guiding. It takes place during 7 hours in total, with four hours being devoted to the exploration of the glacier.

Don’t worry, the equipment is included in the price. Indicate your measures at the reception to retrieve jacket, sweater, socks, gloves and spikes shoes.

An ice ax completes the equipment and I would recommend taking a picture because you look like a South Pole explorer now.

If you came fully equipped in New Zealand, you can simply retrieve a backpack with spikes shoes (avoid using your own bag, you might get dirty).

The supplied equipment is adapted and you will neither have to dry and clean it after the tour.

I guess this is not the first time that you follow a route to the mountain. You have certainly considered sunscreen and sunglasses.

But remember to carry a small empty bottle, even if it seems absurd now, you’ll understand why later, trust me.

This is the time to meet our guide and other hikers. Since everyone is ready, we can board the old bus made in the 60s. The bus ride on the gravel road is short to reach the start point of the forest part.

If the slope is sometimes steep, most of the trip runs smoothly amid the ferns and streams.

The view on the Fox Glacier is awesome.

It has always made me think of a dam giving way with the furious waters invading the valley.

There are 15 meters of snow fall each year, and the soft snow turns to ice in no time.

It's time to start our journey on the ice. Pay attention to the safety instructions: they must be observed all the time.

If you need help to fix the spikes, do not hesitate to ask your guide. This model is fairly simple to fix to the trek shoes.

I suggest you take a few steps on the glacier to check that everything is in order. Do not be disappointed if the surface of the ice is so dirty!

We are still close to the forest and the glacier will turn more and more clean as we gradually ascend.

The guide leads the way and probe the ground to avoid unpleasant surprises.

I do not need to insist on the strict prohibition of going off-track. It would be absurd to put yourself in great danger to take a selfie.

The glacier is alive and the whole landscape is renewed day by day. Ice crevices form and snowfalls give birth to ice arches covered of stalactites.

The tour guide must cut steps sometime in the ice or lay lines to help us cross obstacles.

We advance in a single file at the bottom of the narrowest crevices. It's exciting, but some people are already feeling a bit tired by the walk on the ice.

With already several hours of forest and ice trek, we need to pause before attacking the most beautiful part of the glacier. Take off the spikes of your shoes before joining a dry area and have a picnic on the solid rocks.

The discovery of blue ice caves is undeniably the most beautiful moment of the day. It's like being at the bottom of the ocean! And remember that an hour ago we were at the heart of a subtropical forest...

Fortunately, we have our ice axes and spikes shoes to help us. But wait before rising to the surface! You will be able to fill your empty bottle in many pure water fountains.

According to the Maori legend, you just tasted the tears of Hine Hukatere.

A snow fairy who invited her lover to meet her at the top of Mount Cook. But the unfortunate had a deathly fall for daring to defy the gods of the mountain.

I would like to continue the ascent, but the course is more and more difficult and we already had a great time.

Another route will allow us to reach the glacier front and the valley.

We will follow the moraine, a stack of rocks and rubble that the ice giant torn from the mountains.

I always felt tiny at the foot of Fox Glacier.

An imposing ice cave appeared during the last years, but we can't explore it because the fragile arch may collapse at any time when the glacier moves.

After two centuries of withdrawal, the Fox Glacier started to move again in 1985. Over the last decade, it gained 1.6 km and was close to the Tasman Sea. But global warming slows its progression and the visit we did today will be more and more difficult to plan.

The next generations who will visit New Zealand will probably not explore the glacier as we did.

We finally reach the parking, and I must congratulate you for your seven-hour hike. Before leaving, you should take a look on the information panel which indicates the position of the glacier in the year 1750.The glacier almost reached the sea level! But I guess you prefer to take pictures of the keas, these beautiful mountain parrots that inhabit the tourist areas in search of food.

Most New Zealand guides recommend to also visit the Franz Joseph.

This neighborhood Glacier is only 25 km away. But you may not have enough time and if you need to choose between the two visits, you need some advice.

If Franz Joseph is more spectacular. However, it is only accessible by helicopter if you want to visit ice caves.

Of course, we are not talking of the same budget anymore, because Helicopter flights are quite expensive!

The pricing was the main reason to choose the Fox Glacier, as it was significantly more affordable than the Franz Joseph. The guide will lead you on both glaciers and you will be able to see the peaks of the mounts Cook and Tasman.

However, please note that the Fox and the Franz can be seen after a short walk in the valleys. It can be done safely without guides and for free.

This is already an extraordinary experience and guarantee to make beautiful pictures. In this case, you can very well visit both glaciers on the same day, but you won’t see the caves and neither walk on the ice.

You might consider exploring the two glaciers, and it would be tempting to book a double tour on the same day. I would not advise it, because you may get a feeling of "déjà vu".

Whatever the season, you can expect rain in this region (even if it is true that it rains less during the winter in New Zealand).

You will be refunded if the weather is too bad for the hike, but the decision to cancel a tour is often taken an hour before the start.

For the same reason, helicopter flights that I recommend are also often canceled the same day.

A short rain should not discourage you to book a tour, but remember that there are many other wonders to see in the region.

Lake Matheson which is nicknamed the "Mirror Lake" reflects the whole mountain landscape. You will find it at the end of a 6 km drive after the Fox Village.