Five Walks That Make Winter Worth the Journey

Winter is our favourite time of year and we think it’s the West Coast’s best-kept secret! Snow-capped peaks, mirror like reflections, calm settled weather and fewer people. Winter reveals a side of Glacier Country many visitors never experience.

It’s the season we look forward to most and the perfect time to discover some of Glacier Country’s most scenic walks.

Five Walks Worth Discovering This Winter.

From quick reflection stops to rewarding half-day adventures, these five walks showcase Glacier Country at its best in winter.

Lake Matheson. Credit Kathy Liuliu.

1. Lake Matheson Walk, Fox Glacier

1.5 hours | 4.4km loop

Winter Highlight: Calm winter days create perfect conditions for spectacular reflections of Aoraki / Mt Cook, Mt Tasman and the Southern Alps. It’s easy to see why Lake Matheson is one of New Zealand’s best short walks and most photographed lake. Winter is also one of the best times of year for astrophotography.

Callery Gorge.

2. Callery Gorge Walk, Franz Josef

1 hour 20 minutes | 5.2km return

Winter Highlight: Accessed right in the township of Franz Josef this short walk takes you to the Callery Gorge and historic Callery Gorge bridge. Winter’s lower rainfall and settled conditions reveal the Calley River at its very best with blue waters winding through the striking gorge.

Peters Pool.

3. Peter’s Pool, Franz Josef

25 minutes | 1.1km return

Winter Highlight: This is a short and easy walk to a small kettle lake that provides perfect reflections of the Franz Josef Glacier Valley. Its even more beautiful in winter with surrounding snow-capped peaks.

Okarito Trig Track. Photo Credit: Geoff Marks.

4. Ōkārito Trig Track

1.5 hours | 4.2km return

Winter Highlight: Winter snow transforms an already spectacular panorama into one of New Zealand’s finest views, stretching from Aoraki / Mt Cook and the Southern Alps to rainforest, lagoons and the Tasman Sea.

Lake Gault. Photo Credit: Geoff Marks.

5. Lake Gault Track, Fox Glacier

3 hours | 8km return

Winter Highlight: Like its neighbour Lake Matheson you can catch snow capped reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman in Lake Gault’s dark waters. It’s a rewarding walk for those wanting to venture a little further.

The perfect way to relax after a day’s exploring. Photo Credit: Waiho Hot Tubs.

Stay Longer and Discover More

The drive to Glacier Country is part of the experience, travel through scenic landscapes, stop at viewpoints along the way and once you get here exploring is easy, everything is within easy reach. Spend a long weekend or add a few extra nights to your South Island itinerary.

While these five walks are reason enough to visit they are just the beginning of why winter is one of the most rewarding times to explore. There’s more to discover from UNESCO World Heritage landscapes, Tohu Whenua sites and thriving native birdlife to a wide range of activities including glacier experiences,  kayaking, hot tubs and wildlife encounters.

Everything operates through winter, just without the crowds.

Plan Your Winter Escape

Come and discover our favourite season for yourself.

Start planning your Glacier Country winter escape:

• Accommodation
• Things to Do
• Eat & Drink