Peters Pool

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Ranker's Qualmark Silver Award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism operation that consistently exceeds visitor expectations.

Marios Gavalas

Peter's Pool

Marios Gavalas

Peters Pool

Westland Tai Poutini National Park

5 Rankers Reviews

4 Face-to-Face

11 Franz Josef Glacier

Analysis

All Reviews

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Marios Gavalas

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I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Franz Josef Glacier, West Coast

Camping near Franz Josef Glacier

Information

1.1 km return | 25 minutes return

A kettle hole lake with mirror-like reflections of the mountains on a clear day.

A great little place for some solid contemplation.

Access

The start of the track is signposted from the road end car park at Franz Josef Glacier.

Track

This wheelchair friendly track meanders to a bench and viewing area by the pool.

For a longer walk you can continue on the Douglas Walk (1 hour return 3.9 km), passing Douglas Suspension Bridge.

Return on Te Ara a Waiai (shared with mountain bikes)

Geology

Peters Pool occupies a kettle hole - a depression left by a broken off ice-block from the retreating glacier, which melted in situ.

Details

Feature	Value	Info
Organisation	DOC West Coast Central government organisation
Location	South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Franz Josef Glacier
Categories	Walking Free

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC West Coast

Central government organisation

Location

South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Franz Josef Glacier

Feature	Value	Info
Track Difficulty	Easiest walk Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easiest walk	Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easiest walk
Track Length	1km to 3km Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 1km to 3km	Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 1km to 3km
Track Duration	10 to 30mins Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins 25 minutes return from car park	Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins 25 minutes return from car park
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Large Vehicle Access	Large vehicle accessible Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.	Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.
DOC Track Category	Easy access short walk DOC Track Category What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Easy access short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. Few or no steps or slopes. Suitable for people of all abilities and fitness. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required.	DOC Track Category What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Easy access short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. Few or no steps or slopes. Suitable for people of all abilities and fitness. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required.
Disabled Access	Disabled access provided Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? Disabled access provided This location provides access for wheelchairs.	Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? Disabled access provided This location provides access for wheelchairs.
Crowd Factor	Some people Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either.	Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either.
Track Managing Organisation	DOC Managed Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.	Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.

Reviews

Department of Conservation

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Myriam Ackermann

Switzerland

Ranking: 9/10

Nice walk in the forest, we saw and heard different birds, a one way walk.

Reviewed about 5 years ago and experienced in January 2017

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Fabian Probst

Switzerland

Ranking: 7/10

Nice bush walk, lots of birds, very ugly toilets, good information, not very good view of the glacier.

Reviewed about 5 years ago and experienced in January 2017

Theo Mallais

Ranking: 10/10

Amazing. Don't miss it moreover because it's 25 minutes return.

Reviewed almost 6 years ago

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Pascale Lemieux

Canada

Ranking: 10/10

Best hike the South Island. Difficult, it had rained for a few days before we got there so the river crossings were hard to not get our feet wet. The walk is long and steep but begins with one of my favourite images of the glacier (Peter's Pool). The glacier in the Mirror Lake and finishes with a close up of the glacier without a crowd.

Reviewed about 6 years ago and experienced in March 2016

Paul & Michelle Harmer

United Kingdom

Ranking: 8/10

Says 25min return walk suitable for wheelchairs. We did it with a baby in a baby carrier and there is no sign when you get to the pool the walk has ended - tracks continue on for other walks. If pool is clear you get a fantastic reflection of the glacier.

Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2012

DOC Managed

Thanks to all the good people working for the NZ Department of Conservation - for all your hard work - making NZ more beautiful, accessable and healthy! Cheers 😍

Cymen Crick

Rankers Owner

West Coast ▷ Franz Josef Glacier

Land Activities

4WD Adventures

Bungy Jumping / Swing

Canyoning

Caving

Cycling & Mountain Biking

Horse Trekking

Outside the Square

Railbiking / Railcarting

Snow and Ice

Sphereing

Walking and Trekking

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Diving

Fresh Water Canoeing / Kayaking

Jet Boating

Marine Animal Encounters

Air Activities

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Camping Grounds / Holiday Parks

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West Coast

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Canterbury

Central Otago

Mount Cook - MacKenzie

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Queenstown Region

Coastal Otago

Fiordland

Southland

Peters Pool

Peters Pool

Westland Tai Poutini National Park

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Nau mai, haere mai

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Information

Access

Track

Geology

Details

Track Difficulty

Track Difficulty