Explore the Franz Josef Glacier up close and personal with a guided walk. Experience the deep crevasse caverns and hear the grinding ice with the experienced and professional guides. All gear is included. Better still for the ultimate adventure and rated as one of the top three activities that must be done by all visitors to New Zealand. Combine the sensation of a scenic helicopter flight with a Glacier guided walk. We recommend and book Franz Josef Glacier Guides, The Helicopter Line and The Guiding Company. Franz Josef Glacier is very busy in the season (1 November - 31 March). Therefore only a limited number of walking spaces are available on the glacier. Rainforest Backpackers Lodge has a certain amount of spaces reserved each day for our clients.

Scenic Flights:Take a scenic helicopter or fixed wing flights to the top of the Franz Josef Glacier and even over Mount Cook, with the options of landing in the snow. With the Fox and Tasman Glaciers on either side the views to Mount Cook and Mount Tasman are unbeatable. We recommend and book The Helicopter Line, Glacier Southern lakes Helicopters, Air Safaris and Aoraki Aero Company. We highly recommend booking these activities ahead.

Lake and Lagoon Kayaking: Kayak with White Herons on Okarito Lagoon, New Zealand's largest unmodified wetland, surrounded by magnificent rainforest. This is a premier eco-experience surrounded by many normally unseen birds in their natural habitats. Kayak hire is available from two hours and guided trips are also available. We recommend and book Okarito Nature Tours. Don't be disappointed and miss out on a White Heron experience while in Franz Josef.

Skydiving: This has to be New Zealand's most scenic skydive. Taking off over the rainforest viewing Lake Matheson and coastal views from Hokitika in the North to Haast in the South; climbing to the western faces of Mt Cook with spectacular mountain and glacier views; and then jumping out of a perfectly good plane - sensational. We recommend and book Skydive NZ.

Horse Trekking: Discover the beauty of South Westland on horseback in this horse-riding paradise, with a stunning backdrop of mountain ranges, the Southern Alps and rainforest. We recommend and book South Westland Horse Treks.

Rainforest Tours: We recommend and book Kamahi Tours for a variety of Guided walks and Eco Tours to and around the Franz Josef Glacier. These are personally guided tours with quality guides. Popular tours include walks to the Glacier Terminal Face, Lake Matheson, Okarito and Rainforest Walks.

White Heron Tours: Visit New Zealand's only White Heron (Kotuku) nesting colony. See the magnificent Kotuku, Royal Spoonbill, Little Shag and other birdlife, all in their natural environment. We recommend and book White Heron Tours.