Driving around Okarito township near Franz Josef | West Coast | New Zealand | 4K

Categories: West Coast Region

Tags: driving, new zealand, okarito, west coast

Added: 3 years ago

Driving around Okarito township near Franz Josef - West Coast New Zealand. In the video I label the start of the Okarito Trig Walk, the Okarito Coastal Walk, and do a drive around the Okarito Campground.

The township of Okarito is an idyllic, remote settlement bounded by ocean, lagoon, native forest, and the snow-capped Southern Alps. The township attracts those passionate about nature, conservation and enjoying the outdoors.

The Okarito Lagoon is New Zealand's largest unmodified wetland covering 3,240 hectares of shallow water. The rugged Southern Alps dominate the landscape inland, with the impressive expanse of the estuarine lagoon along the coast. For those who like history, there is former gold town to explore. For walkers there are wetland, coastal or trig station walks close by and challenging tramps up the Whataroa Valley. To get your fill of birds, spend time on the lagoon or visit the white heron colony in the Waitangi Roto Nature Reserve.

The Franz Josef Glacier offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience a dynamic glacial environment that is within easy driving and walking distance from the main highway. With one of the most accessible glaciers in the world and the ocean nearby, Franz Josef is a unique place and a must see region of New Zealand.

Franz Josef Glacier is a located within Westland National Park and forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site. The area has some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand, and is located about six kilometres from the centre of the Franz Josef village. See awe-inspiring remnants of the ice age cascading from snowfields to rain-forest valley floors. Hop in a helicopter and have the glacial experience of a lifetime, landing on the top of the glacier and exploring the crevasses and wonders of this remarkable glacier. The glacier tumbles down from the tops of the white, lofty Southern Alps (the tallest in New Zealand) into the rainforest covered valley close to sea level at about 70cm per day – about 10 times faster than normal glaciers. This provides a very rare opportunity to experience a dynamic glacier in a temperate environment, within easy driving and walking distance from the main highway. Franz Josef village is in a high rainfall zone with mild temperatures.