Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Landing
- 25 minutes
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Instant confirmation
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Take in magnificent views while flying over the Franz Josef Glacier and surrounding Southern Alps mountains on this scenic flight. We are locally owned by husband-and-wife team Gus and Poppy started our West Coast company in 2014. They are both commercial pilots and you'll generally find one of them out flying most days. On our Glacier Explorer flight, you'll fly over the Franz Josef Glacier and into the Southern Alps to enjoy the included 10-minute snow landing for photos. Total experience time approx. 25 minutes. If you wish to book a Comfort Seat or request a Front Seat Upgrade, please contact us at least 24hours in advance of your flight. Please allow an extra 45minutes on top of your flight time to allow for checking in, transport to helicopter, loading, unloading and to return to our office.
Inclusions
What's included
- Professional, experienced pilot
- All taxes, fees, and charges
- Snow landing (approx. 10 minutes)
- Scenic 25-minute helicopter flight
What's not
- Comfort Seat (required for passengers 120kg / 265lbs+)
- Front seat upgrade requests (subject to availability)
Itinerary
The Glacier Explorer flight includes stunning views of the Franz Josef Glacier.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 5210
- 48
- 36
- 20
- 14
Ratings come from 228 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Scenic Helicopter Flight over Stunning Franz Josef Glacier with a team of wonderful professional crew members!
The helicopter flight over the Franz Josef Glacier was AMAZING!!! The views were stunning, out of this world! What is important also is the team that made this possible. We had booked to fly in the morning but unfortunately the weather conditions were not ideal and the staff at Glacier Country Helicopters rescheduled our flight to late afternoon when the weather was better. They went all out to accommodate us and we really appreciated that. So glad we did the activity with Glacier Country Helicopters, the team was outstanding and very professional. Our helicopter pilot Mark has a wonderful sense of humour, keeping his commentary informative and light hearted. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend this activity - it’s a once in a lifetime experience!
5A must do experience !!!!
What an amazing experience flying over the glaziers and landing too. The staff were extremely friendly and flexible in finding a weather window. Can't rate this enough!!!
5Glacier helicopter Flight
Best experience I’ve ever had. Most importantly, the staff and pilot were exceptional. The pilot was highly experienced and made the flight feel safe and enjoyable. The views were absolutely stunning. Highly recommended!
5Well worth the price
Great once in a lifetime experience. Lovely helpful staff.
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An unforgettable experience — absolutely breathtaking
My Franz Josef Glacier helicopter flight with landing was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we lifted off, the views were incredible — soaring over rugged peaks, deep valleys, and the shimmering glacier felt like stepping into another world. The landing itself was a real highlight. Standing on the glacier, surrounded by pure white ice and dramatic mountain scenery, was an experience I’ll never forget. It felt peaceful, surreal, and completely awe‑inspiring. The whole trip was smooth, well organised, and felt really safe. The team were friendly and professional, and the pilot shared great insights about the area, which made the experience even more special. If you’re visiting Franz Josef, this is an absolute must‑do. It was one of the standout moments of my trip.
5Fabulous flight around the highest mountains in New Zealand and walking in a glacier
Absolutely brilliant experience from start to finish. We were due to fly at 9:30 but were asked if we could come earlier as the weather forecast was better for earlier in the day. The safety briefing was appropriate for the activity. Mark, our pilot, was friendly, calm and extremely knowledgeable. The commentary he gave us as we flew around the mountains and glaciers was great. It was a once in a lifetime activity that we will remember for a very long time. Would highly recommend to anyone who is in the area. Thank you, we loved it!
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Please check in at our office 30 minutes prior to your flight time. We recommend bringing sunglasses, a light jacket, camera, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 20 travellers
- Operated by
- Glacier Country Helicopters
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please let us know if you have limited mobility e.g. injury, arthritis or recent surgery? There are two high ladder style steps into the helicopter. This information could effect what helicopter we fly you in.
- Comfort Seats: Our helicopter seats are 40cm wide, an empty seat can be reserved next to you if you prefer extra space (passengers 120KG & over when weighed at check in will be required to purchase a Comfort Seat - these are half the RRP of your flight).
- Please note snow levels on this 25minute flight are seasonal. In summer the alpine landing site may have no snow & be a rocky mountain side. Please book a longer flight option for gauranteed snow.
- If we are unable to land due to weather conditions, you will be refunded the $30 landing fee and the flight length reduced by the landing time.
How it compares in Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
- Its from-price is 16% below the median of the 59 experiences we list in Franz Josef & Fox Glacier.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 7 of 59.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
Franz Josef and Fox are two glaciers on New Zealand's West Coast that flow from the Southern Alps almost into temperate rainforest.
The Franz Josef and Fox glaciers descend from the Southern Alps through steep valleys into lowland rainforest on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, ending only a few hundred metres above sea level. The two small townships, about twenty-five kilometres apart, sit in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage area. Julius von Haast named Franz Josef in 1865 after the Austrian emperor.
Top-ranked sights in Franz Josef & Fox Glacier: Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Fox Glacier South Side Walkway.
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