Franz Josef Glacier
Franz Josef, New Zealand
Franz Josef Glacier is a glacier in the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. It is one of the 25 sights listed on this site and is the 11th most looked-up sight in New Zealand on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The climate varies throughout the year. The warmest months are January and February, with daily highs of about 9 °C. The coldest period is between June and August, when daily highs drop to about -4 °C and lows reach -10 °C. Rainfall is consistent throughout the year, with the highest monthly rainfall occurring in December at about 797 mm.
To reach the glacier, the nearest airport is Hokitika Airfield, located 106 km away. Christchurch International Airport is a larger hub 188 km from the site, and the glacier is 448 km from the capital, Wellington. Visitors can combine a trip to the glacier with a visit to Aoraki / Mount Cook, which is 14.1 km away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is February, with an average high of 9 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 1 | -3 | -3 | -3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Average low, °C | 1 | 2 | 0 | -3 | -6 | -9 | -10 | -9 | -7 | -5 | -3 | -1 |
| Rainfall, mm | 689 | 539 | 697 | 613 | 626 | 603 | 497 | 582 | 681 | 749 | 689 | 797 |
| Rainy days | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 18 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
