The communal kitchen is massive and well-equipped, making it easy to whip up a family meal. A handy tip is to hire one of the private kitchen cupboards for a small fee, which keeps your gear secure and saves you lugging it back and forth from the van or cabin. There’s also free gas BBQs on offer which we enjoyed during the summer months.

For your morning caffeine fix, head into the village to Cafe Neve. This local favourite opens early and is the go-to spot for a quality coffee and a fresh muffin or breakfast sandwich. It has a warm, relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for planning your day's adventures while the morning mist clears from the peaks.

When you are looking for a high-quality meal with a world-class view, Matheson Café is the standout choice. Located just a short drive away at the start of the Lake Matheson walk, it features expansive windows looking out to Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. The menu focuses on fresh seasonal ingredients and gourmet pizzas, making it a sophisticated yet approachable spot for a long lunch.

To finish the night with a beer and a bit of history, Cook Saddle Cafe & Saloon is an iconic West Coast venue. Built with a rustic log-cabin vibe and featuring a roaring fireplace, it is the place to swap stories with other travellers over a hearty plate of lamb shanks or a venison burger.

The park itself has plenty to keep you moving or help you unwind. You can hire e-bikes or pedal karts to zip around the grounds, challenge the kids to a game of giant chess, or book the private hot tub for a long soak after a day on your feet.

For the quintessential Fox Glacier experience, start with the Lake Matheson walk. It is a gentle 1.5 hour loop through ancient forest that leads to the famous mirror-view of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. To see the glacier up close, the Fox Glacier Valley Walk is an easy, hour-long return trip that takes you through the carved-out riverbed to the terminal face. If you want to get onto the ice, booking a heli-hike is the only way to explore the deep blue crevasses and caves properly.

As the sun begins to set, drive five minutes to the Peak View Point. It is one of the best spots in the region for a panoramic view of the Southern Alps as they turn pink in the twilight. Once it is properly dark, take a torch and head to the Minnehaha Walk on the edge of the village. This short, 20 minute rainforest loop is home to thousands of glowworms that transform the mossy banks into a natural light display.

If you have a half-day to spare, take the 21km drive out to Gillespies Beach. The road is unsealed but manageable, leading you to a rugged black sand coastline scattered with driftwood. From the car park, you can take the track to the seal colony at Galway Beach or explore the historic gold mining suction dredge. It is a wild, wind-swept contrast to the alpine scenery back at the park.

The local general store is fine for the basics, but the selection is limited. If you are planning to cook most of your meals at the park, it is a smart move to stock up on groceries in Hokitika or Franz Josef before you arrive.