The Glacier
At 13 km the Fox Glacier is the longest of the awe-inspiring New Zealand West Coast glaciers.
The warm northerly winds originate in Australia and crosses the Tasman Sea gathering evaporation. The air rises over the 3000 metre barrier of the Southern Alps and the moisture condenses. The rain turns to snow and accumulates in the neve - the 30 square kilometre snow catchment area at the top of the glacier. Over the years this snow compresses into ice and is forced down the steep narrow Fox valley forming the 13 km river of ice known as the Fox Glacier.
It is one of only a few glaciers in the world that have the distinction of terminating among temperate rainforest only 250 metres above sea level.
It is one of only a few glaciers in the world that have the distinction of terminating among temperate rainforest only 250 metres above sea level.
Glaciers are held in the delicate balance by the accumulation of snow gained in the upper glacier and ice melting in the lower part. An increase in snowfall at the neve will result in the glacier advancing. Correspondingly, a faster melt will result in the glacier retreating. Measured over the last few thousand years the glacier has retreated far into the mountains, but the glacier had advanced rapidly down the valley between 2000 and mid 2009, regaining a beauty not seen for more than fifty years!