I'm planning a trip to NZ the first 2 weeks of March 2003 and want to do a half-day glacier walk. Would you recommend Fox Glacier or Franz Josef - and can anyone recommend a tour guide company for this trip? Also, any accommodation recommendations in the area would be appreciated. Thanks,<BR>Martha<BR>

We have been to both, and they really are quite similar. I think the walking approach to Fox might be easier, although there are some slickrock areas and drop-offs. We went to Fox Glacier with Alpine Guides (Westland, Ltd.). It was a great experience, but you need to take some care, as you could easily slip or fall in the icefall area. They did not give sufficient advice regarding clothing, and I saw a couple of folks slip down some ice and get nasty scrapes. If they had been wearing long pants and shirts, they would have been OK.

Thanks Alf for your response. I'm planning on spending a few days in the glacier area, taking the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth. I want to see the Pancake Rocks and the coastline as well as do a glacier trip. Would you recommend staying in Greymouth or staying at either Franz Josef or Fox Glaciers. I would stay in a moderately nice hotel and haven't decided whether I will rent a car or depend on day tours and busses for transport. Thanks again,<BR>Martha<BR>

I must confess to not knowing much about hotel choices, as we are campers. At Fox Glacier, we stayed at the Punga Grove Motel, which was well-appointed, but nothing special. Greymouth has a larger selection of hotels, but not in as nice a setting.<BR><BR>The Pancake Rocks are great - if you go at the right time (high tide) and if there is strong wave action, there are some pretty spectacular blowholes.

If you decide to go to Franz Josef then my recommendation would be to stay in the village. There really are no hotels so to speak of in the area. There are some smaller motels and restaurants in the village of Franz Josef. There is also a motel closer to the glacier (called Glacier Gateway). This motel is near nothing does not even have a coffee shop so you might be wise to remember this place as a "DON'T STAY AT GLACIER GATEWAY". You can get stranded here as we did.