Winter

Franz Josef can be visited anytime in the year thanks to the mild and surprisingly warm climate in the area and at the glacier itself. The West Coast area is one of the rainiest places in the world so one has to be careful about planning a trip to avoid the heavy rain season. The tours and packages operate even in the rain on the glacier but the experience is best with a sunny day. Most travellers agree that the best time to visit the glacier is before or after the summer, sometime in the winter months as the major rainfall season has passed and the mild climate of the area, combined with the excessive sunshine in the area prevents it from being too cold.