Franz Josef Wilderness Tours · Franz Josef
A boat carries you across Lake Mapourika to a private trail on the far shore, where a guide walks you through never-logged rainforest in the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary. It's the same forest as the kayak trip without the paddling, and it's done in 2.5 hours.
Same company, same office and same sanctuary trail as the kayak and walk, but here a motorboat does the crossing. You check in at 30 Main Road 15 minutes early, head north to Lake Mapourika, and cruise to the remote far shore while the guide talks about the lake, a kettle lake the glacier left about 14,000 years ago.
On the far shore you walk the company's private trail in the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, predator-free and never logged. Guests report around 30 minutes in the forest, with fantails following the group, then tea or coffee before the boat back. Expect a lot on conservation and plants. One guest spotted a white heron, the kōtuku, on the lake.
Don't read "cruise" as "no effort". The listing asks for moderate fitness, and several guests found the trail tougher than they expected, with uneven ground; walking poles help. It goes rain or shine. Direct, the operator lists it from NZ$159 on franzjoseftours.co.nz.
Franz Josef Wilderness Tours, next to The Landing restaurant.
North on SH6 to Lake Mapourika.
A motorboat crossing to the far shore, with commentary on the lake and its birds.
Guests report about half an hour on the sanctuary trail with your guide.
A hot drink, then the cruise back and the drive to town.
★★★★★Very knowledable about the area and all the plant and bird life, we heard about the eco system and the conservation they are doing in NZ. [...] we had a 80 year old and 72 year old and. 62 year old and we traversed the walk okay. The walking poles did help a lot.
★★★★★Lovely cruise across the lake with great information on the area from both Joe & Dylan [...] learnt all about conservation efforts in the area as well as being stalked by a fanned tailed bird :)
★★★★★This tour goes rain or shine and it was raining for our tour. The rain did not take away anything! The tour was so enjoyable.
★★★★★A wonderful morning spent with Joe exploring the beautiful Lake Mapourika and its surrounding incredible rainforest. [...] Oh, another plus, Joe makes a grand cup of tea!
Read next:
Guests report about 30 minutes in the forest, inside a 2.5-hour trip. It's slow and guided, but the ground is uneven and the listing asks for moderate fitness.
Yes. The operator calls it suitable for all ages, and infants aged three and under go free, sitting on a lap.
The cruise for no paddling and a shorter trip. The kayak and walk gives about 2¼ hours on the water plus a longer walk, in 4 hours.
Yes, it goes rain or shine. Lake trips are the usual plan B when heli hikes are grounded.
Ready to book
A boat across Lake Mapourika and a guided rainforest walk, no paddling needed.
Lake Mapourika Kayak and Rainforest WalkPaddle Lake Mapourika, then walk a private trail in the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, reached only by water. Tea and photos included.★ 4.9 · 4 hours · from $104
Lake Mapourika Kayak TourA guided paddle across Lake Mapourika and up a rainforest creek, with transport and free photos. Easy for first-timers.★ 4.9 · 3 hours · from $93
Franz Josef Glacier Valley WalkA small-group nature walk up the Franz Josef valley on public and private trails, ending at the public glacier viewpoint.★ 4.9 · 3 hours · from $67