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Franz Josef Wilderness is a family-owned kayak and boat tour business in Franz Josef Glacier.
Offering a variety of kayak tours, boat cruises, and fishing charters on Lake Mapourika – only minutes from Franz Josef Glacier.
There’s a tour for everyone!
Meet at our booking office located in the Franz Josef township at 63 Cron St. Here’s where you’ll meet your guide and we can provide transport to and from Lake Mapourika. Local accommodation pick-ups are also available.
CHILD POLICY Kayak tours: Children ages 2-17 welcome
Boat tours: Under 3 years are FREE, Child fare from 3-17 years
CANCELLATION 24 hours 100%
SEASON Open all year aside from Christmas Day
Franz Josef Wilderness is a family-owned kayak and boat tour business in Franz Josef Glacier.
Offering a variety of kayak tours, boat cruises, and fishing charters on Lake Mapourika – only minutes from Franz Josef Glacier.
There’s a tour for everyone!
Engaging adventures you won’t forget. Calm mirror-like water reflects the surrounding Southern Alps and Glaciers. Explore the rainforest-clad creek of the Kiwi Sanctuary.
The Original Franz Josef Kayak Adventure awaits you…
Glide effortlessly across the water taking in the panoramic views of the Southern Alps and Glaciers – the scenery is world-class! Follow your guide into a hidden creek through the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary and experience some of the region’s untouched Jurassic rainforest and pristine wilderness.
Free high-quality photos taken by your guide.
Departs 9 am | 1 pm | 5 pm (Summer) | Duration 3 hours* *winter: 9 am | 2 pm
Journey across Lake Mapourika and enjoy exclusive access to our private rainforest trail through the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary. Step off the boat and into a Jurassic rainforest that feels like another world!
The track follows a nature walk carved by your skipper Dale & his team. Built with care to keep the area as untouched as possible. On this eco-tour you will experience the old-growth rainforest in its pristine state; some of Westland’s oldest untouched rainforest full of abundant birdlife, including white herons and native bush birds.
The Cruise & Nature Walk is a premium West Coast experience, suitable for all ages.
Departs 09 am, 1 pm, 5 pm (Summer) | Duration 2.5 hours*
*winter departures: 9 am & 1 pm
Franz Josef Wilderness Tours also offer fishing charters, fishing for brown trout or wild salmon.
Bike and Paddleboard rentals are also available.
Family Friendly
Lake Mapourika is a beautiful kettle lake that sits sandwiched between the Southern Alps and the Tasman sea. It was created by the Franz Josef Glacier as it retreated some 14000 years ago and now sits in the warmer, drier section of the Franz Josef Glacier Valley. The lake boasts mirror-lake reflections (like Lake Matheson!) and borders a kiwi conservation area. This is a must-see location while visiting the Franz Josef area.
