Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
Beyond Franz Josef & Fox Glacier

Small-Group Kayak Adventure from Franz Josef Glacier

Badge of ExcellenceFranz Josef & Fox Glacier, New Zealand
  • 3 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Overview

Explore the serene waters of Lake Mapourika on this kayak adventure from Franz Joseph. Paddle with your guide out onto Lake Mapourika, widely considered one of Westland’s most scenic spots. Enjoy uninterrupted views as your guide explains the region’s fascinating geology, and marvel at the reflective views of the Southern Alps. Head into a kiwi sanctuary in a protected estuary, and discover some of the country’s oldest untouched rainforest.
  • See native wildlife and receive digital photos after your tour
  • All necessary equipment and instruction is included
  • Round-trip transportation from Franz Joseph is provided
  • Learn more about glacier country’s geology, flora, and fauna

What's Included

  • Fully Guided Activity
  • High Quality Photos
  • All equipment provided including dry bags, splash jackets and gloves and hats in the winter
  • Courtesy Transport to and from the Lake
  • Courtesy pick-ups available on request
  • Private transportation
  • Lunch
  • Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 30 Main Road, Franz Josef / Waiau 7886, New Zealand

    Please check-in at our office 15 minutes prior to your trip departure time. We are located in the building next to The Landing Restaurant.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Lake Mapourika

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Operated by Franz Josef Wilderness Tours

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

See more
Featured review
Anne_C
Fabulous guide. He had lots of good information. The whole team friendly and helpful. The lake and river we kayaked up were wonderful. Lovely scenery.

Reviews

5.0
316 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
0
0
0
0
0
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 316 reviews
Nice experience
Anastasia_R, Mar 2024
It is a very nice experience. There was a breeze, so we had to kayak against the wind initially and I’m a pretty horrible kayaker and was kayaking with 11 year old, so the guide had to tow us. I was so thankful to the guide for the help. The lake itself is beautiful and you see a forest that is thousands years old. Learn about kiwis and conservation efforts. My only tip is for the parents: if you are coming with kids, ask for an adult kayak “skirt”. The kids version doesn’t protect against water and you end up with a super miserable kid, that sits in a puddle of freezing water for 2 hours. I wish I knew that, it would save us a lot of misery (for the kids).
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi, Thank you for your lovely review. Glad to hear you still enjoyed yourself regardless of the wind. Certainly can be hard with a head wind, but you are always guaranteed a tail wind on the way back which makes for a easy ride home. The guides are always here to help with a tow if needed. We are sorry to hear that you child did not enjoy the trip as much. We use kids spray skirts for safety purposes, as the adult spray skirts require a bit of strength to pop off in the case of a capsize. Thank you for joining us. Dee
Awesome and views outstanding.
Tracey_B, Feb 2024
We would highly recommend our Kayak adventure. Staff were great and so informative. Beautiful views, glad we done it.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you Tracey for the lovely review. Great to hear you had a good time out on the lake. The views from out on the water are truly breath taking. Thanks for joining us. Dee
A little underwhelming
Mira_G, Feb 2024
The guides were wonderful but this is a rather boring and unattractive lake to kayak on. The water is brown and not much to see in the way of scenery. There are many places that are much better for a kayak tour. The free photos were a nice touch.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hi Mira, Sorry to hear that you found our tour underwhelming! We're happy to hear you enjoyed our guides and the free photos. The lake is what's known as a black-water lake (making it actually quite unique compared to other kayak venues in NZ). The black water is formed thanks to the rainfall collecting tannin from the forest and staining the water dark like tea, this effect also creates a mirror-lake effect. Often times the water reflects the scenery like a perfect mirror. The photo you posted along with your review is from mirror-creek where we paddle into the Jurassic untouched rainforest in it's pristine state, as well as kiwi conservation area for NZ's rarest kiwi bird, there's not many places like it in the country and this makes it part of a UNESCO world heritage site! Sorry to hear the scenery was disappointing, I think perhaps it depends what you're looking for in a kayak tour. We hope you enjoy the rest of your travels around the country. Kind regards Bronwyn
Nothing like a paddle in a gentle rain👍
Lawrence_P, Jan 2024
Had a great paddle in a gentle rain! Very enjoyable. Our guide Dillon was very good. Kayaks were very stable and easy to paddle. Though we did not have views of the mountains due to low clouds the scenery around the lake was wonderful
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thanks for the great review! Lake Mapourika certainly is beautiful in all weather conditions! We are glad you had a great trip with Dylan. Safe travels. Thanks Emma
Awesome
Michael_S, Jan 2024
Our guides were knowledgeable. The scenery was lovely. The pace was easy. A good time was had by all. I recommend this activity.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you Michael for your wonderful review! Lake Mapourika has the best views, and offer mirror reflection which makes is twice as great. Thanks again for recommending us, we truly appreciate it. Dee
beautiful afternoon
Joan_S, Jan 2024
This was a wonderful relaxing time in a beautiful setting. Our guide was knowledgeable and made it interesting.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you Joan for the lovely review. Great to hear that you enjoyed you tour with us! Kind regards Dee
A paddle not to be missed
sharvey2111, Nov 2023
Beautiful scenery, the lake was calm and serene. Guides were helpful and knowledgeable which greatly enhanced the experience. I highly recommend.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for the lovely review! The lake does offer a peaceful experience! Safe travels Dee
quiet and relaxed journey for kayaking newbies
Eric_z, Oct 2023
we are not athletic people and did not have any experience with kayaking before. However, it is quite an easy journey to take on the lake since it is very calm water compared to other lakes or sea kayaking. That being said, there is quite a lot of paddling and our guide offered to tow us to keep up with the whole group. The view of the lake is simply stunning. Highly recommend going for the morning tour, the lake is just like a mirror reflecting the sky and beautiful mountain. Oh get some insect repelant since there is an awful lot of sand flies close to the water surface.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hi Eric, Thank you so much for the wonderful review. The morning generally does offer beautiful calm waters, glad you were able to experience this. Safe travels Dee
Stunning kayak excursion
Sarah_K, Aug 2023
Fantastic family kayak trip with Marcus - the most stunning views and reflection of mountains in the lake. Lovely bird life including a black swan with cygnets!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Kia Ora Sarah, Thank you for the lovely review. Always great to get families out on the lake and have a true NZ experience together. Definitely never tire of the view from the lake!! Dee
A must do
John_M, Jun 2023
Amazing guide and beautiful sereal location that you must experience the experience was amazing and to see the mountain in the background was breathtaking
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hi John Thanks so much for your review! We're so glad to hear your tour was excellent and you enjoyed our scenery! Happy travels Bronwyn
Fabulous guide. He had...
Anne_C, Mar 2023
Fabulous guide. He had lots of good information. The whole team friendly and helpful. The lake and river we kayaked up were wonderful. Lovely scenery.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Kia ora, Thanks for your 5 star review, so glad you had an awesome time, totally agree the guides are super knowledgeable and so much fun. :) Ngā mihi, Suhas
Good afternoon fun
David_R, Mar 2023
Ari was a great guide, good fun and Knowledgeable. He made the trip more interesting with his local knowledge. We were a group of 4 who are all over 60 and we coped with the physical excursion. I would highly recommend this trip.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Kia ora David, Thanks for your 5 star review. We agree, Ariel is awesome and carries lots of knowledge about the area. Ngā mihi, Suhas
Your advertising is...
John_G, Feb 2023
Your advertising is deceptive. It shows kayakers in front of Franz Joseph Glacier when in fact it’s miles away and the photo assumes the kayaking would be on a glacial lake. A complete waste of my money and time.
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Hi John, We're a little confused as to what photos you find deceptive. All of our photos we use for advertising have been taken during our kayak tours on Lake Mapourika ( these photos are taken by our guides on the tour, which we provide free to all customers). So there's not a single photo we own that's "false" advertising, they are taken exactly where our tours take place. We also don't say in any of our advertising that we kayak towards or "up to" the glacier. We promote the fact we paddle in a rainforest area, a kiwi conservation area and that one clear days we can see glaciers on the mountains at the back of the lake (inlcuding the Franz Josef's neve) which is all true. So it's a shame that you had a false pretense about the activity, and I'm really gutted that you didn't enjoy the rainforest and kiwi conservation which is a tour highlight for most of our customers. If there's something you found online that you think is misleading, please send this over to me: admin@franzjoseftours.co.nz and we'd love to know about it so we can correct the issue. Kind regards Bronwyn
Kayak adventure from Franz Josef
Mary_R, Nov 2022
What a lovely afternoon on lake Mapourika. Our guide Ariel was fantastic, he was able to tell us so much about the wildlife and the area and added much to the enjoyment of the trip. Really stunning place and great fun. Thank you!
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Hi Mary, Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review! Ariel is full of local knowledge and has many interesting facts about the flora and fauna out on the lake so we're pleased he was able to share that with you. Enjoy the rest of your travels around NZ! Kind regards, Teana
Exceptional experience
Narelle_K, Nov 2022
Ariel and Taylor our guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Ariel played a conch shell on the sheltered Bay which echoed. Very moving. A great experience. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Hi Narelle, Thanks for leaving Taylor and Ariel a 5 star review! We're pleased to hear you had a great time exploring the lake with them and how good is Ariel playing the conch, hes very talented! Safe travels, Teana
The three sisters
catherine_m, Oct 2022
Loved the quiet moments in the Brook. The knowledge of Dale and the very pleasant company of Becca. The laughter!!
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Hi Catherine, Awesome to hear you enjoyed the stillness of the Lake! Dale and Becca do make a good team. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Safe travels, Ariel
Absolutely amazing!
Emma_M, Jun 2021
The whole experience was amazing absolutely beautiful day what a view kayaking through the lake around the mountains and the kayak guide we had with us was great :) can’t wait to come back next month and do this again I’ll be booking this again very soon! Loved it :)
Response from Host, Jun 2021
Wow thanks for your amazing review! We look forward to paddling with you again next month :) Kind regards Bronwyn
Super afternoon of kayaking, led by...
Iain P, Mar 2018
Super afternoon of kayaking, led by Brett.Very informative and friendly, looked after us all very well.Thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks Brett.
This kayak tour is a must-do...
Rahul C, Feb 2018
This kayak tour is a must-do activity while at Franz Josef Glacier Village. Lake Mapourika is a spectacular glacial lake, surrounded by temperate rain forest-covered hills. The tour keeps right on schedule, with safety being the primary concern of the tour guides, and your enjoyment of the tour coming in a close second. For the most part, you'll be paddling your kayaks without commentary from the tour guides. Once you cross the lake, however, the tour guides provide nice insights about the origins of the lake and the forests and the wildlife. We paddled up a somewhat narrow creek, and stopped to listen to the tour guides about the various plants and original human inhabitants. We were lucky to get reasonably close to the somewhat elusive New Zealand White Heron. Our guides were Johnny aka Woody because he wore a hat similar to Woody in Pixar's Toy Story and Bom Bom Brandon?. Both were entertaining and informative, and clearly love what they do. Wonderful scenery, good physical activity, and a learning experience. What are you waiting for?
Lovely, tranquil...
Margaret P, Jan 2018
Lovely, tranquil kayaking. Brett, our guide was knowledgeable and looked after everyone well. Beautiful region

From $89.09

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Compare Similar Experiences

1 / 2
Current
No Photo
Small-Group Kayak Adventure from Franz Josef Glacier
316
3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$89.09
No Photo
Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing
111
20 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$207.95
No Photo
Off Road Quad Bike Adventure Tour in Franz Josef
108
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$62.46

Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Explore Similar Things to Do

Help CenterCustomer CarePrivacy and Cookies StatementAbout ViatorNewsViator blog
© 1997-2024 Viator, Inc.
Terms & Conditions