Road Trip from Queenstown to Glacier Country, New Zealand
Whether you’re just arriving in the South Island or you’ve been touring around the South Island and continuing on your way, it’s time to get out and explore! This post will focus on a road trip from Queenstown to Glacier Country. When driven directly, it can take as little as four to five hours, but with all of the stops you can make it one day or a multi-day itinerary.
Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.
Renting a Car in New Zealand
The best way to get around the South Island of New Zealand is by car. It gives you full flexibility and freedom to explore. This is really key as you will pass many beautiful places to stop and explore, and it would be a real shame to miss them!
While the process and cost of renting a car can be intimidating, there are lots of options available to find something to fit your needs. In fact, I’ve written a whole post about this to help you out: Renting a Car in New Zealand.
Learning to Drive on the Left Side of the Road
Coming from the US, the road trip was made all the more adventurous as we learned to navigate the road signs and driving on the left side of the road. Fortunately, my friend Matt was my fearless driver for this part of the adventure. While he remembered to stay on the left hand side of the road, he also cleaned our windshield a few times too.
Fun fact: Since Kiwis (New Zealanders = Kiwis) drive on the left side of the road, the driver sits on the right side of the car and the windshield wipers are on the left and turn signals are on the right. All completely opposite from the US!
Learn more about Renting a Car in New Zealand: The Essential Guide
Where to Stop on a Road Trip from Queenstown to Glacier Country
Sure you can make the drive from Queenstown to Glacier Country in under five hours, but you’d miss some incredible stops along the way! Here are 9 stops recommended to make the most of your road trip.
The Supermarket
As with any road trip, the first thing I recommend is pack the necessities. This includes some snacks and food for along the way. We opted for some snacks, peanut butter and jelly fixings, and fruit.
Once that errand is complete, it’s time to truly hit the road!
Next Stop: Lake Wanaka
Queenstown to Lake Wanaka
Distance from Queenstown to Lake Wanaka: 70 km / 1 hour driving
It won’t take you long to realize just how stunningly beautiful the South Island is. In fact, you’ll probably want to stop multiple times for photo opps at overlooks, lakes, mountains… you name it!
One of these beautiful lakes that is worth a stop is Lake Wanaka. Here you’ll find a quaint city with a few key places to visit. You can do this as a quick stop along the way or spend a day or two in town.
Learn more about Discovering Lake Wanaka: Hidden Gem of New Zealand
Lake Wanaka to Fantail Falls
Distance from Wanaka to Fantail Falls: 85 km / 1 hour driving
Fantail Falls is a 23 meter tall waterfall just off of the Haast Highway (SH-6). You’ll see signs for it and then the small car park for it. Take the quick ten minute walk from the car park to the waterfall. It is quite easy and suitable for all ability levels. If you wish, you can even wade into the river at the base of the waterfall.
Hike Details: 0.2 miles / Out & back / 39 feet of elevation gain
Fantail Falls to Thunder Creek Falls
Driving Distance Fantail Falls to Thunder Creek Falls: 6 km / 5 minutes driving
You’ll have barely settled into the car when you come to Thunder Creek Falls. It’s just five minutes down the road from Fantail Falls. This 96 meter waterfall is also right off the road, requiring about a ten minute round trip walk from the road. You won’t be disappointed by this one as it is picture perfect. Just be aware of the sand flies which sometimes are very active in this area.
Hike Details: 0.1 miles / Loop trail / 3 feet of elevation gain
Thunder Creek Falls to Roaring Billy Falls
Distance from Thunder Creek Falls to Roaring Billy Falls: 22 km / 15 minutes driving
The next stop is, surprise, another waterfall!! Roaring Billy Falls is a little further off the road than Fantail Falls or Thunder Creek Falls. It will take about 25 minutes round trip to walk down to it, but it too will reward you with top notch waterfall scenery. It’s well worth the stop if you have the time!
Hike Details: 0.9 miles / Out & back / 118 feet of elevation gain
Roaring Billy Falls to Blue Pools
Distrace from Roaring Billy Falls to Blue Pools: 42 km / 30 minutes driving
The Blue Pools are deep pools located where the Blue River meets the Makarora River. Getting to them will take a short walk from the car park. It will take between 30 minutes and 1 hour to visit these pools depending on your pace. The walk will also take you through the forest and over swinging bridges above the rivers.
Hiking Details: 0.9 miles / Out & back / 177 feet of elevation gain
The Blue Pools are unsurprisingly, deep blue in color and named after this color that is a result of light refraction on the clear and icy cold water. Note that you can swim in these beautiful pools, but they are glacier fed and cold year round.
Blue Pools to Fox Glacier
Distance from Blue Pools to Fox Glacier: 190 km / 2 hour 15 minutes driving
This part of the drive is one “straight” shot down State Highway 6. It’s a great time to break in a new driver/windshield washer if you have one. Do be aware that fog is common in this area. It can affect driving and your views of the glaciers.
Fox Glacier Valley Walk
Upon arrival at Fox Glacier, (Congratulations! You’ve made it to Glacier Country!) take the Fox Glacier Valley Walk. It leads you up to the viewpoint of the glacier terminal face, a one hour return trip hike. The walk is pretty flat and easy through the glacier river valley but the last 400 meters are a fairly steep hill with lots of signs for no stopping due to falling rocks and ice. From the top of the hill you can see Fox Glacier in some of its glory… (The fog hid the top of it when I was there.)
Hike Details: 2.1 miles / Out & back / 541 feet of elevation gain
Tip: Verify this path is open before you go. A landslide (slip) has it closed as of early 2020.
Fox Glacier South Side Walk
This walk follows the south bank of the Fox River through the rainforest to get to a glacier viewpoint. If the Fox Glacier Valley Walk is closed, this is the best way to see Fox Glacier without taking an expensive tour.
Hike Details: 4.2 miles / Out & back / 583 feet of elevation gain
Other Ways to Experience Fox Glacier
If you want to get up close and personal with Fox Glacier, you can take one of the many excursions that helicopters over or onto the glacier. Here are some of the best selling options.
What to Expect of Fox (and Franz Josef) Glacier
If you have never seen a glacier before, like me, you may not know what to expect. I was really surprised by how dirty the face of it was along with just how vividly blue the parts peaking through were. This blue color carried over to the blue of the water running off of it. All in all – it was a shock to me just how little it looked like ice, and how much it looked like dirt.
Find full details about visiting Fox Glacier on its official website.
Fox Glacier to Franz Josef Glacier
Distance from Fox Glacier to Franz Josef Glacier: 23 km / 25 minutes driving
One of the “main events” on this road trip from Queenstown to Glacier Country, Franz Josef Glacier is one of the most prominent glaciers of New Zealand’s 3,144 glaciers.
Franz Josef Glacier Trail
Arriving at Franz Josef Glacier, you’ll want to head out on the one and a half hour return trip journey into the Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk. It leads up to the viewpoint of the terminal face. Upon arrival, you’ll be able to check out yet another dirty mass of ice – Congratulations!
Hike Details: 3.5 miles round trip / Out & back / 505 feet of elevation gain
Peters Pool
If you have time, you can do additional hikes around Franz Josef Glacier. Peters Pool is a 40 minute round trip walk and brings you to a beautiful reflection pool. Just follow the first ten minutes of the longer Douglas Walk. Due to the poor whether we were facing, we were completely unimpressed by the view… It was a marsh. That’s it, a marsh. Perhaps you will have better luck!
Hike Details: 1.8 miles round trip / Out & back / 193 feet of elevation gain
Other Ways to Experience Franz Josef Glacier
There are many other ways to see and experience Franz Josef Glacier. Here are some of the best selling options.
Find full details about visiting Franz Josef Glacier on its official website.
Last Stop: Hiking in Glacier Country
Having completed the road trip from Queenstown to Glacier Country, its time to enjoy all that Glacier Country has to offer, and that includes hiking! Or tramping as it is affectionately known in New Zealand. The scenery in this area is stunning as it is part of Westland Tai Poutini National Park, and there are numerous ways to get out and experience it. Here are two of the popular treks.
Callery Gorge Walk
The Callery Gorge Walk starts right near Franz Josef town and takes you through the rainforest to the Callery Gorge Bridge. It is an hour and 20 minute return walk and it is lovely! From the rainforest to the swinging bridge over the Callery Gorge, you will not be disappointed in this short hike/walk.
Hike Details: 3.2 miles round trip / Out & back / 570 feet of elevation gain
Tip: Verify this path is open before you go. A landslide (slip) has it closed as of early 2020.
The Tatare Tunnels Walk
Starting at the same point as the Callery Gorge Walk, you can backtrack to the turn off for the Tatare Tunnels Walk. This hour and 20 minute return walk ends at the old gold mine tunnels. You will need a flashlight to explore and there’s a chance you’ll need to wade through cold water in the mines. We had not come prepared to climb into a mine, so we just peered into the entrance.
Hike Details: 2.8 miles round trip / Out & back / 524 feet of elevation gain
Of these two walks, if you only have time for one, I would go with the Callery Gorge Walk. It offers more stunning scenery, especially once you reach the bridge!
Make your road trip a success with this Road Trip Packing List!
4 Key Tips for Your Road Trip from Queenstown to Glacier Country
A trip to New Zealand is likely a once in a lifetime adventure for most travelers. Make the most of it with as much valuable information as you can gather ahead of time!
1. How many days do you need for the road trip from Queenstown to Glacier Country?
Most of the stops along the way can be done as a quick stop, however, I recommend you stop and spend one or two nights in Lake Wanaka to fully explore that region. One night gives you the opportunity to see and do the highlights while 2 or more nights will be key if you want to extensively hike around the Lake. From Lake Wanaka, you can then continue on your way to Glacier Country.
2. How many days should you spend in Glacier Country?
Once you arrive in Glacier Country, how many days you spend depends on what all you want to do in this region. If you just want to see the highlights of Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, you can do it in 1 – 2 days, but if you want to do more excursions or hiking around the region, you can add on additional nights. Just remember that the town itself is very small with only a handful of restaurants and bars to choose from!
3. Pay attention to the weather in Glacier Country
I had the misfortune of not only encountering a lot of fog in Glacier Country, but also quite a bit of rain. Do pay attention to this as it can really impact your time here. Especially as there is no “cover” in the Glacier Valley walks.
On our way back from the Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk we encountered sprinkles that turned into torrential rains that soaked not only my coat, which was protecting my purse, but also my “rain jacket” and much of my sweatshirt underneath it, as well as my shoes and jeans. (Apparently buying a rain jacket in China is a mistake…) This made it a very long 45 minute walk back to the car park.
4. Know where to stay in Glacier Country
There are somewhat limited accommodations in Glacier Country, but you will certainly find something of interest. My friends and I staying in a lovely little cottage in Glenfern Villas that had excellent views of the mountains and some sheep and alpaca you were allowed to feed.
Here are some recommended options in the area:
- Hostels: Rainforest Retreat | YHA Franz Josef
- Budget Private Rooms: Alpine Glacier Motel
- Mid-Range Hotels: Franz Josef Oasis | Glenfern Villas
Continue Planning Your Time in New Zealand
While this road trip from Queenstown to Glacier Country will cover some of the most beautiful scenery New Zealand has to offer, there are a lot of other magnificent places to check out. Here are some useful posts to continue your planning for your road trip and the South Island:
- Renting a Car in New Zealand: The Essential Guide
- Road Trip Packing List for Expert Travelers: 60 Road Trip Essentials + More Tips!
- Discover Lake Wanaka: Hidden Gem of New Zealand
- Road Trip from Queenstown to Christchurch
Headed to the North Island of New Zealand? Here are more posts to get you started on your planning!
- The City of Auckland
- Geothermal Activity and Adventures in Rotorua
- In Search of Glow Worms: Waipu and Abbey Caves
- Hobbiton: Visiting the Set of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings’ Movies
- Piha: Adventure to a Black Sand Beach
- Wining and Dining on Waiheke Island
- Visiting the Bay of Islands with The Rock Overnight Adventure Cruise
Like this post? Pin it!
We are so sorry we had to cancel our planned trip to New Zealand in 2020. But we will get this back on the travel planning board. And a road trip from Queensland to Glacier Country sounds like a perfect way to see so much of this stunning country. It would take us many days with all the stops I know we would want to take.
New Zealand is one of my all time favorite places to road trip through because everything is so beautiful! You encounter mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers, etc. Definitely keep it on the travel planning board!