The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, located on the West Coast of the South Island, are two large glaciers that still flow nearly to sea level, even in this age where most of the world's glaciers are shrinking. Their lower altitude relative to most glaciers and the mild climate of the region mean that these two glaciers are very easy to visit, and tourists will get a kick out of climbing among the ancient ice, parts of which have open tunnels like caves that visitors can explore. To visit the West Coast Glaciers, guests must book a helicopter or ski plane to the starting point and hire a guide to lead the trip onto the ice.
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Step 1: Visit the website and book directly and/or call ahead to confirm their hours.
Step 2: If you are spending the night, search for Hotel Deals nearby. Read the reviews, then call the hotel directly to book and ask for a romantic, kid-friendly or pet-friendly amenity if you need it.
Step 3: If you are flying, compare Flights. Book directly with the airline, add your frequent flier number and reserve your seat.
Step 4: Estimate your driving time using Google Maps (click the blue 'Directions' arrow in the search box).
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Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.