Fox Glacier

An easily accessible glacier, that originates in a very large accumulation zone with extremely high rates of snowfall. The fast movement of ice down a deep, steep valley brings it to a very low altitude where it melts rapidly. This dynamic glacier erodes vast quantities of rock debris that is deposited at its snout as moraines (piles of boulders) that are themselves further eroded away by the meltwater river. After a period of advance between 1983 and 2008 the glacier has recently been in a phase of rapid retreat.

Look for classic glacial erosion features such as: the 'U' shaped valley profile, erratic boulders, moraines (piles of boulders that have been left in place by the ice) striations or scrape marks, and smoothed or polished rock surfaces. You can also see gully erosion, debris fans (at the base of steep gullies) rock fall scars and rock fall debris.
Also look for at the bare, unvegetated rock exposed on the side walls above and in front of the glacier. This shows where the ice was in 2008 and gives you an idea of how much retreat has occurred since then.
You can also admire the variety of schist rocks that have been brought up to the surface from deep down in the crust by uplift along the nearby Alpine Fault, (which you crossed just as you left the main State Highway on your way to the glacier car park)