Franz Josef Wilderness Tours · Franz Josef
A guide leads double kayaks across Lake Mapourika and into a quiet rainforest creek on its far shore, with the Southern Alps mirrored in the water on calm mornings. Easy paddling, rain or shine, and the photos are free.
The Kayak Classic takes three hours from check-in to drop-off, with about 2.5 hours on the water. Franz Josef Wilderness Tours drives you 10 minutes north from its office at 30 Main Road to Lake Mapourika, a kettle lake left by the Franz Josef Glacier about 14,000 years ago. You get a splash jacket and a dry bag (plus gloves and a hat in winter), a safety briefing, and a kayak.
The route crosses to the lake's remote far shore and paddles into a hidden rainforest creek, where the water goes still and dark and the forest closes in. Guides talk about birds, trees, glaciers and conservation; black swans and ducks are common. On still mornings the snowy peaks reflect in the lake. That's the photo everyone wants, and the guide takes it for you.
Two honest notes. You won't see the glacier itself from the water, a guest points out, and a breeze can make the crossing hard work (guides tow slower boats). On a rainy, low-cloud day the mountains disappear. The lake is still pretty and the trip still runs, which makes it the default plan B when helicopters are grounded. Direct, it costs from NZ$159 on franzjoseftours.co.nz.
Next to The Landing restaurant. Splash jackets and dry bags handed out.
Courtesy transport north to Lake Mapourika.
Safety talk, then across the lake and into the rainforest creek, with stops for stories and photos.
Drive back to the office. Photos follow by email.
★★★★★It was raining that day a I thought this was not going to be good, but then the water is warmer and as we reached the mirror river, things began to clear up, and it was so calm and beautiful. Because of the rain, the chopper were not flying so it was clam, quiet and beautiful.
★★★★★Small tour of 16 people with 2 guides, professional photos taken on the water, wet weather gear provided and good value for money.
★★★★★Fantastic experience with plenty of interesting information on the local environment. The kayak up the river was stunning
★★★★★we are not athletic people and did not have any experience with kayaking before. [...] it is quite an easy journey to take on the lake since it is very calm water compared to other lakes or sea kayaking. [...] Highly recommend going for the morning tour, the lake is just like a mirror reflecting the sky and beautiful mountain.
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No. Guests with no experience found it easy on calm water, and guides tow boats that fall behind when there's wind.
No, not the glacier itself. On a clear morning the snowy Southern Alps reflect in the lake; on cloudy days you get forest and water.
About 10 km north on SH6, roughly a 10-minute drive. Transport from the office at 30 Main Road is included.
Yes. The guides take photos on the water and they're included in the price; one guest counted 102 shots.
Ready to book
A guided paddle on mirror-calm Lake Mapourika under the Southern Alps, transport and photos included.
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