Fox Glacier

Glacier tongue of Fox Glacier in March 2007

The Fox Glacier ( English: Fox Glacier, Maori: Te Moeka o Tuawe ) is a valley glacier near the west coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is within the Westland National Park. Its accumulation area is located in the region of the highest peaks of the Southern Alps and as well of the 25 km to the north -lying Franz Josef Glacier flowing from there the steep western flank of the mountain down and therefore extends far down, almost to 300 m.

In 1852, Leonard Harper named Franz Josef and Fox Glacier to Victoria and Albert, the then British royal couple, but this made no official announcement. So it happened that both now have different names. After the New Zealand Prime Minister William Fox in 1872 the two glaciers paid a visit to the Fox glacier got its present name.

The Fox Glacier drained by the Fox River in the Tasman Sea. Due to the proximity of the village of Fox Glacier Village of the glacier is heavily developed. A little south of the local branches of State Highway 6 south-east one about seven kilometers long route from over which one can get close to the Gletschertors.