The Glacier You May Never See | Travel Documentary - Franz Josef, NZ

Franz Josef is the glacier you may never see. In this video and episode of the travel documentary series I explain the special circumstances surrounding the Franz Josef Glacier (and Fox Glacier) as-well as the nearby townships.

The situation around the glacier far outweighs only environmental concerns. While retreating inexorably, the consequences of the melting glacier combined with fluctuating tourism activities, stretch and reaches into the economic and social dimensions as-well. A unique situation embodying the challenges of our time.

Helicopter Footage by Daniel Van Lier

Timelapse of Franz Josef and Fox Glacier by Victoria University of Wellington

If you'd like to read up on the situation, I'll recommend these articles ⤵️

00:00 - Intro
00:44 - The Situation around Franz Josef Glacier
02:40 - Our Personal Experiences
04:53 - Similar Experiences - Canada & Norway
07:13 - The Helicopter Situation
08:30 - Glacier Retreat Explained
09:50 - Environmental & Social Consequences
12:55 - Last Chance Tourism
15:50 - Conclusion

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#franzjosef #glacier #newzealand

[ThePeopleareleaving]

Hiked it this year in March of 2023. An amazing place!

[JustinEspejo]

this was so compelling.This is the kind of stuff that shouldn't be on just youtube alone! really gripping wojtek!!!

[remylasset]

Wow! I saw Franz Joseph Glacier in 2010. On the same year I was lucky enough to see other glaciers in Peru and Argentina. I will probably never go and see the first 2 ones again, once was enough to feel devastated. 
Perito Moreno though is one of the very few exceptions, if not the only one now (and for how long?), who maintains a state of equilibrium. I was even more lucky that I could admire the beauty of it without mourning the losses.
Thank you Wojtek for remembering me what I felt there. Thank you for sharing what you felt and feel about it, what people who have seen it feel... It's so important that people who may never see those glaciers could also feel the same just by watching your documentary. And think. And do their part to slow down this process.
Great job!

[hallease]

OMG! Bruh, this is amazing. Your production quality and storytelling are epic.

[ExploreTravelCapture]

This is such an incredibly impactful video, a place I didn’t even know existed, that me living my day to day effects.

[leehoong]

You're among one of the best person out there who make these fascinating documentaries.

[VictorFang]

I was here just earlier this year and it is indeed super sad. Also wow incredible video! Your production quality and story telling is amazing.

[stuartfoster]

I quite understand and agree with your commentary. I have experienced your awe of glaciers around the world. I remember how impressed I was seeing the Franz Josef glacier for the first time pre covid.
I recently went back to almost a ghost town post covid. I was so disappointed that the lovely vibrant town had all but disappeared. Only one place open for breakfast (the kiwi experience), most restaurants shut for lack of staff, and shops rarely open. Such a shame!😩😭

[jenniferblakeney]

Saw FJ Glacier in 2016. We could still walk the valley floor to see the terminal face head on. It was majestic, the first glacier i'd ever seen, but you could see how much it had retreated. It's sad seeing it today - very obviously smaller than it was just 6 years ago. Thank you for making this film to bring awareness to the plight of glaciers world wide.

[hitchhiker]

Have you tried to hike up to Fox Glacier terminus? I walked up to Chancellor Hut (Feb 2023) then onto Chancellor Dome then back down to Fox Glacier town. On the way back down I saw a huge car size bolder falling down Passchendaele to the terminus (Suicide Alley) heading towards me. It missed me by 5 meters and the glacier debris on impact sprayed all over me. Be bloomin careful in that area, but i guess some people like the risky adventure, so there will always be people trying it. The hike route there is challenging and adventurous, but man, the glacier is way more wild and monstrous than the Tasman glacier! You can still get onto the glacier via the Goatpath off Roberts point track via Baird Range (I did this in Feb 2023 too), however that is falling apart and highly unrecommended!

[Will-jrrf]

I hiked there in 2004. Incredible ice caves at the base, waterfalls, streams, and chutes leading halfway into the valley. This change is unreal. I am very happy to have experienced it when it was still readily accessible by foot.

[Neekss]

Fantastic editing and storytelling around such an important topic. What us humans have been doing to the Earth haunts me every single day 💔

[lucieax]

Thank you for this! Beautiful but sad! I'm about to visit Franz Josef in 4 weeks time.

[sallyaldred]

What a wonderful documentary. So sad to see how much FranzJosef has receded since my first visit to NZ. Indeed, I now feel so fortunate to have seen it when I did and have many photos to remind of it as it was

[infinitepaths]

Sad to see. When I visited the Mer de Glace Glacier in France recently, there was a valley descent where it marked the glacier's level in '1952', '1990' and so on, it was amazing to see how much it had receded even in the last ten years. Great documentary.

[cody_mchardy]

What a fantastic video! I felt the emotion and it’s something important to me too.

[RickBebbington]

Captivating. Loved every moment of this, and the edit was fantastic (the intro in particular). The little touches don't go unnoticed, great job Wojtek!

[Nanokillaz]

I remember climbing on the Franz Josef glacier in 2013 and it was amazing being able to walk on the ice and going through ice tunnels. It's heartbreaking seeing that it's gone now other than the last remnants.

[amitavamandal]

Did the pandemic induced hiatus have any effect on the extent of either the Franz Joseph or the Fox glacier? The answer can provide some directions for future tourism prospects of these incredibly beautiful attractions.

[travelsofacycles]

2006 I Photograph Fox Glacier it was a wall of ice with a hole at bottom with river of water coming from within, the river was wide fast flowing to the sea. 1996 I took a rafting trip from the parking lot to the sea. Now it's retreated, I can't tell from the video, but maybe a mile. 1984 no road, you had to walk from the highway. PS no tourist well maybe two guys on bicycle's but I don't like to be called a tourist.