Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere valley and Sentinel Rock

From the car park at the end of the Glacier Access Road walk through rainforest to the footbridge at the start of the valley track. Just beyond, turn left up the Sentinel Rock Walk, a short climb to the top of a knob of rock smoothed by the ice, and come back down. Follow the valley track south to the river and glacier viewpoint looking up the Waiho valley to the ice, and return the same way.

It is 2.1 km there and back with 33 m of ascent; allow about half an hour. The grade is Easy: a short, well-made track with one steady climb.

The Waiho River has cut off the old track to the glacier face, so the walk ends at the viewpoint barrier: never go past barriers or into the riverbed, where people have died. The valley sees river surges, rockfall and flash floods, and DOC can close the track at short notice. Expect a cold wind off the ice. There is no glacier travel here; the only way onto the ice is a guided heli-hike.

DOC charges for the car park: $2.50 a half hour or $20 a day by card, with stays under 10 minutes free. You can also walk or cycle in from Franz Josef/Waiau on the Te Ara a Waiau walkway and cycleway.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.