Getting There and Away

Written by Callum Taylor, Camille Laurent, Marika Maslanka
25/08/2025
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Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, Wikimedia Commons

The main local transport points for visitors to Glacier Country are the townships of Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. Greymouth serves as a significant regional transport hub with both bus and train connections. Hokitika, Queenstown, and Christchurch host the nearest airports, acting as gateways for land transport to the region.

By Bus:

InterCity provides regular bus services to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier from various locations.

  • A bus journey from Nelson to Fox Glacier takes approximately 10 hours 25 minutes.
  • Travel by bus from Greymouth to Fox Glacier is about 4 hours 10 minutes.
  • The bus trip from Greymouth to Franz Josef takes around 3 hours 34 minutes.
  • A bus ride between Fox Glacier and Franz Josef typically lasts 35-45 minutes and costs approximately $3-$5.
  • From Wanaka, a bus to Fox Glacier takes about 5 hours 40 minutes, and to Franz Josef about 6 hours 25 minutes.
  • A bus from Queenstown to Fox Glacier is approximately 7 hours 15 minutes, while to Franz Josef it is about 8 hours.
  • Small group guided minivan tours are also available from Queenstown and Christchurch.

By Car Rental:

Renting a car offers flexibility for exploring the scenic West Coast.

  • Car rental services are available in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, as well as in larger cities like Greymouth, Queenstown, and Christchurch.
  • Daily rental costs can begin from approximately $56 NZD from Fox Glacier.
  • The minimum age for car rental is generally 21, with some companies requiring drivers to be at least 25 years old.
  • Driving from Franz Josef to Hokitika takes about 1 hour 43 minutes (135km).
  • The drive from Franz Josef to Queenstown is approximately 4 hours 40 minutes (351km).
  • Driving from Franz Josef to Greymouth takes around 2 hours 12 minutes.
  • The journey by car between Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier is roughly 24 minutes (24km).

By Train:

The TranzAlpine train operates between Christchurch and Greymouth, with a journey time of just under 5 hours.

  • From Greymouth, travelers can connect to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier via bus services.
  • A TranzAlpine Scenic Plus experience starts from NZ$499.

By Air:

The closest airports for reaching Glacier Country via land transport are Hokitika, Queenstown, and Christchurch.

  • Hokitika airport is about a 1 hour 43 minute drive from Franz Josef.
  • Scenic helicopter flights depart from both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, providing aerial tours of the glaciers and Southern Alps, often including a snow landing, but these are for local sightseeing rather than transport to the region.
  • A 20-minute Neve Discoverer Flight with a snow landing costs $350 per person, while a 30-minute Fox and Franz Josef Twin Glacier flight with a snow landing is $445 per person.

Check out our other pages on Glacier Country (Franz Josef/Fox Glacier)

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