Whilst Franz Josef has plenty of incredible walks there are just two substantial hikes, Alex Knob and Roberts Point. Both offer great views of the glacier, the best you’ll get anywhere but on a helicopter trip and both require a bit of an investment in terms of time. That leaves most hikers having to choose between the two.
We were lucky enough to do both and can help you choose which is the best based on a number of factors.
Alex Knob vs Roberts Point: which is the best hike in Franz Josef?
The stats
| Alex Knob | Roberts Point | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 17.8km | 11.8km |
| Elevation | 1,200m | 670m |
| Time | 6.5 hours | 5.5 hours |
The glacier view
Since everyone visiting Franz Josef is coming to see the glacier, we’ll start with the glacier views. Alex Knob has three main viewpoints of the glacier with the final one from the peak offering a truly sensational unobstructed view of both the glacier and surrounding snowy peaks.
You feel a little way from the glacier itself but it’s still an imposing view and one of the best on any day hikes we’ve done in New Zealand. It’s a hard spot to tear yourself away from.
One of the viewpoints on the Alex Knob Trail
View from the summit of Alex Knob
A big difference between the two trails is that unlike on the Alex Knob track, you will only see Franz Josef Glacier at the very end of the Roberts Point track, any views in between are of valleys and waterfalls but not the glacier itself.
When I first saw a picture of the viewpoint at the end of the Roberts Point Track I wasn’t sure that it would be my sort of view because you are surrounded by fencing and there’s a picnic bench. I generally prefer the setting to feel completely natural. But I was wrong.
Yes there is fencing but you feel incredibly close to the glacier, and also immersed inside the view itself. It’s hard to describe but you have the glacier in front of you and a huge waterfall and jagged peaks to the right which surround you and make it feel really intimate.
Franz Josef from the end of Roberts Point Trail
The view from Roberts Point
As you can see both views are amazing, I will give Alex Knob the slight edge based on the lack of fencing and surrounding mountains, but honestly it’s very close.
The scenery
When it comes to the general scenery, for the majority of the walk up Alex Knob you are in the forest - very beautiful forest, but you don’t break the bushline until you are very close to the summit. From there you will see the Southern Alps before also getting glimpses of the ocean.
You do have the option to make a short detour to the pretty Wombat Lake, but for the most part it’s forest and then epic views from the top.
The forest on the Alex Knob trail
Roberts Point also spends a lot of time in the forest but there is more variety, with many waterfalls and cascades and quite a few open views before you reach the end.
You also have the option to add on a very short detour to a small kettle lake which offers a mirror like reflection on a calm day.
Scenery on the Roberts Point Trail
Swing bridge on the Roberts Point Trail
Even though I adore the forest on the Alex Knob Track I would say Roberts Point wins on this one for the extra variety it offers.
The trail
The Alex Knob trail is largely a straight up straight down type of walk. It’s not all steep, and terrain varies between a gravel path and a more natural dirt path with rocks and tree roots, but it’s fairly similar all the way.
The forest track - Alex Knob
The summit track - Alex Knob
The Roberts Point Track is one of the most varied trails we’ve hiked in New Zealand. There are four swing bridges, an old hut, a floating staircase (something we’ve never seen before) and a long scramble towards the end.
Swing bridge on the Roberts Point Trail
Floating staircase on the trail
Robert’s Point is the clear winner based on the the fact it’s ever changing and keeps things interesting from start to finish.
The difficulty
The Alex Knob Track is a longer hike and has almost twice the elevation gain of Roberts Point. It will take 1-2 hours longer to climb.
However the trail conditions are great, there are no tricky bits so you can maintain a constant pace all the way.
Alpine views from Alex Knob
The Roberts Point Track has some sections of tricky terrain. There are lots of rocks and tree roots which can be slippery and then a fairly substantial (over 500m) scramble.
The scramble in wet weather is extremely slippery and has to be done with care.
The trail to Roberts Point
Even in dry weather there will still be some damp slippery sections as a few small cascades stream down the track.
I am not the most confident scrambler and I could do it, but it’s definitely harder than Alex Knob due to the scrambling. I found a few sections were best to go down backwards and hold onto the tree roots for stability.
Therefore I think which is the hardest depends on you, I found Roberts Point harder simpy down to that section of tricky terrain, whereas I know some people would say Alex Knob is much harder as you have to walk further and climb twice as high.
The crowd factor
You don’t really have to worry about major crowds on either hike, most visitors stick to the easier walks. We saw two people all day on the Alex Knob Track and three on Roberts Point and that was across the whole day!
We did hike in winter so it will no doubt be busier in summer but nothing on the scale of somewhere like Wanaka’s Roys Peak.
If you are hiking in peak season though, it’s worth noting that the Alex Knob car park is tiny so you will probably want to start early (which is also recommended anyway as it can get very cloudy over the glacier in the afternoons).
So which is the best overall?
Although I absolutely loved both hikes, and both are two of my favourite South Island day hikes, I think overall I’d have to pick the Roberts Point Track for the sheer variety. The swing bridges, floating staircase, and scrambling keep things exciting every step of the way.
Of course I would recommend both but if you don’t mind the tricker terrain and you only have time for one, I’d pick Roberts Point.
You can find out lots more detail on both tracks in our in-depth guides to Alex Knob and Roberts Point.
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