The glacier area is one of the main tourist attractions of the West Coast, with around 250,000 visitors a year, and up to 2,700 per day (2007).
Guided and unguided walks up to and onto the glacier are possible.
However, since April 2012 all glacier walks require a helicopter flight past the unstable terminal face.
Glacier walks also require some specialised equipment, namely ice axes and crampons that latch onto a sturdy boot.
These are usually provided by tour companies.


As the walking part of any tour up to the glacier takes a long time, and ends at the first icefall (a  frozen waterfall, draping a natural step in the land underneath), many tourists book helicopter tours from one of the several local airlines, which usually drop their guests between the first and second icefalls, for a guided 1–2 hour walk through the broken ground atop the glacier.
Although the glacial landscape changes almost daily, given the glacier's unusually fast flow, and some walks including passages through ice tunnels, they are still considered quite safe and only somewhat strenuous.

In June 2010, an Australian tourist died of a heart attack during a guided hike of the glacier.

At the entrance of the valley lies the village of Franz Josef, which has a permanent population of approximately 330 residents.
 It is situated 5 km from the glacier on State Highway 6 and has a petrol station, small but busy heliport, numerous tourist accommodation options (with up to 2,000 people staying overnight during the main season) and a number of restaurants and shops.
Just south of the village, a sealed road leads from the highway into the Franz Josef Glacier valley and to a car park.
 Several small walks start from the Valley Road and the car park, and it is also possible to comfortably cycle from Franz Josef township to the car park.

As of 2015, the valley walk ends at a lookout about 50 m from the main terminal face of the glacier.
 Since around 2012 the terminal face has become too dangerous to approach, and signs warn against crossing the safety barriers at the lookout.

An alternative option to view the glacier is via the 8 hour day hike up the 1,303 metres (4,275 ft) high Alex Knob, overlooking the Franz Josef Glacier and valley below.
 The path up Alex Knob is of good tramping track standard, but strenuous due to steeply climbing about 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) in height and considered "advanced" due to the duration of the hike.
The glacier area is one of the main tourist attractions of the West Coast, with around 250,000 visitors a year, and up to 2,700 per day (2007). Guided and unguided walks up to and onto the glacier are possible. However, since April 2012 all glacier walks require a helicopter flight past the unstable terminal face. Glacier walks also require some specialised equipment, namely ice axes and crampons that latch onto a sturdy boot. These are usually provided by tour companies.

As the walking part of any tour up to the glacier takes a long time, and ends at the first icefall (a  frozen waterfall, draping a natural step in the land underneath), many tourists book helicopter tours from one of the several local airlines, which usually drop their guests between the first and second icefalls, for a guided 1–2 hour walk through the broken ground atop the glacier. Although the glacial landscape changes almost daily, given the glacier's unusually fast flow, and some walks including passages through ice tunnels, they are still considered quite safe and only somewhat strenuous.
In June 2010, an Australian tourist died of a heart attack during a guided hike of the glacier.
At the entrance of the valley lies the village of Franz Josef, which has a permanent population of approximately 330 residents.  It is situated 5 km from the glacier on State Highway 6 and has a petrol station, small but busy heliport, numerous tourist accommodation options (with up to 2,000 people staying overnight during the main season) and a number of restaurants and shops. Just south of the village, a sealed road leads from the highway into the Franz Josef Glacier valley and to a car park.  Several small walks start from the Valley Road and the car park, and it is also possible to comfortably cycle from Franz Josef township to the car park.
As of 2015, the valley walk ends at a lookout about 50 m from the main terminal face of the glacier.  Since around 2012 the terminal face has become too dangerous to approach, and signs warn against crossing the safety barriers at the lookout.
An alternative option to view the glacier is via the 8 hour day hike up the 1,303 metres (4,275 ft) high Alex Knob, overlooking the Franz Josef Glacier and valley below.  The path up Alex Knob is of good tramping track standard, but strenuous due to steeply climbing about 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) in height and considered "advanced" due to the duration of the hike.
Franz Josef Glacier