Lake Mapourika Scenic Cruise

During your visit to the Franz Josef Glacier, embark on a scenic cruise along Lake Mapourika. Explore a temperate rainforest and discover unique wildlife on this West Coast adventure.

Activity Details

On the day of the adventure, we meet at 30 Main Road in Franz Josef, then travel to the launch point to board our vessel for a scenic journey across Lake Mapourika in Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

Sailing over the calm waters, you'll enjoy views of wilderness landscapes, rainforests, and native bird species. The boat features covered cabins for comfort on colder days and outdoor viewing platforms for close-up nature views. The route includes the Okatarito Kiwi Sanctuary, where we’ll search for New Zealand’s renowned kiwi bird.

Our local guide will provide commentary on the unique ecosystems that contribute to the area's World Heritage status, focusing on the temperate rainforest within a glacial environment. After 2 hours, we’ll return to the dock.

Hiking Route

Upgrade to include a 1.5-hour nature walk in the rainforest. Following the cruise, we’ll hike through this ancient landscape, observing various bird species and local flora and fauna. There may be opportunities to learn about edible plant species and take home flax flowers as a souvenir. This experience concludes after a total of 2.5 hours at the meeting point.