Welcome to

Franz Josef
Wilderness Tours

Paddle, Cruise or Fish with us on Lake Mapourika. Locally owned and operated in Franz Josef Glacier, NZ
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Guided Kayak & Paddleboard tours with a backdrop of the Southern Alps & Glaciers. Free photos included with each tour so you can relax and enjoy the moment.

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Personalized boat eco-cruises with owner & operator Dale. Fully covered and custom built comfortable tour boat to provide a unique cruise experience.

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Fish for Brown Trout and wild salmon on the calm scenic water of Lake Mapourika.
Book a BBQ tour to make an evening of it, a true kiwi experience.

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Combo Tours

A first-hand exploration of a glacier by chopper and foot is an experience you will never forget.

HELI-HIKE COMBO

Combine a Heli-hike with any of our tours and save 15% on your lake experience with us! This is the ultimate way to experience all..

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Scenic flight Franz Josef Wilderness Tours NZ things to do glaciers

Scenic Flight Combo

Book any of our tours: Paddle Tours, Cruises or Fishing Tours and combine them with a Scenic Flight of your choice!

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Quad Bike Combo

Combine with a Quad Bike tour and save an AMAZING 20% OFF both your activities! This is a unique short time offer so get in…

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RENTALS

Explore the West Coast’s scenic trails by bike, or hire a kayak or paddleboard to enjoy Lake Mapourika at your own pace!

Kayak Hire

Hire a kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard and explore the lake at your own pace!
Double sea kayak rental

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Bike Hire

If you’re keen to explore Glacier Country by bike we’ve got you covered. Rent one of our high-quality 18 speed, hard tail mountain ..

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SUP Stand up Paddleboard hire Franz Josef Wilderness Tours NZ SUP rentals

SUP Hire

Hire a SUP and explore the sheltered bays and beaches of Lake Mapourika. Hourly Stand Up Paddleboard Rentals are available.

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Watch us in action

“Paddle, cruise or fish with us on the beautiful Lake Mapourika. Franz Josef Wilderness Tours offer guided kayak, SUP and boat tours of the stunning Franz Josef area. Our knowledgeable guides will show you the glacier from new perspectives on an engaging tour experience you won’t forget. We’ll snap pics of you along the way so you can focus on enjoying the scenery. We also offer rentals if you’d prefer to strike out on your own. Fan of fishing? Lake Mapourika’s calm reflective waters are home to Trout and Salmon — join us on a charter!
As previous guests have raved: “It truly is one of the best experiences in Franz Josef!”
Let’s explore our slice of paradise together.”

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TripAdvisor Reviews

We took the morning tour and it was fantastic. The waters were calm and the morning clouds were lifting. Laura and Reiss were our guides. They were informative, personable and informed. They talked about current conservation objectives and provided a safe and fun environment. My partner and I are seniors and had no problem keeping up. There were adequate rest periods and beautiful views.

Simi, New York, USA

This was a great way to spend a few hours in an idyllic setting. Our guide Johnny was excellent – so friendly and full of knowledge about our surroundings. Highly recommended, thanks!

Gary, Liverpool UK

I cannot recommend this enough! I’ve now done it twice in 3 years and both times it was spectacular, both in terms of scenery and overall experience. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable and was taking candid snaps all throughout the trip that we had access to later on. I highly recommend the morning trip, as that’s when the water is like glass and it feels so serene gliding over it. It truly is one of the best experiences in Franz Josef.