Franz Josef Glacier: Helicopter Flight & Alpine Landing

About This Experience

This is the 25-minute Glacier Country Helicopters flight from Franz Josef township, and with 696 GetYourGuide reviews it is the most-reviewed flight on this site. You check in at the operator's office in town, sit through a safety briefing, then ride a van out to the hangar to meet your pilot. Headsets go on before take-off so you can hear the commentary for the whole flight, which the listing gives as 25 minutes including the stop.

The route runs over the terminal moraine at the foot of Franz Josef Glacier, then up the valley above the ice, where you look down on pinnacles and crevasses. From there the helicopter climbs in among the peaks of the Southern Alps. The landing is on an elevated snow site with views across some of New Zealand's highest mountains, and the listing allows about 10 minutes on the ground for photos before the flight back to the hangar.

The landing depends on the weather and the pilot's call. In summer, when there is no snow at the site, the operator switches to an alpine landing on rock. The listing also says this flight has the highest cancellation rate of its range, because it uses a single route and landing site with no backup when cloud sits on that route. Longer flights from the same company have more options, so book it early in your stay.

It suits a first helicopter flight, a tight budget or a short stop in Franz Josef, at from $223 per person and 4.8 from 696 GetYourGuide reviews. A few reviewers were told on arrival that the snow landing was off, and some were flown to a different, lower site or found the time in the air shorter than they had hoped. If time on the snow matters most to you, keep a spare day or look at a longer flight with more route options.

Highlights

• Fly over the terminal moraine and up the Franz Josef Glacier valley
• Look down on the glacier's ice pinnacles and crevasses
• Climb in among the peaks of the Southern Alps
• About 10 minutes on an elevated snow landing site, weather permitting
• Most-reviewed flight on this site: 4.8 from 696 GetYourGuide reviews
• Checks in at the operator's office in Franz Josef township

What's Included

• ✓ Safety briefing at check-in
• ✓ Van transfer from the office to the hangar
• ✓ 25-minute helicopter flight with an experienced pilot
• ✓ Headset with the pilot's guided commentary
• ✓ Snow or alpine landing of about 10 minutes, weather permitting

Not Included

• Comfort Seat: passengers weighing 120 kg or more at check-in must buy one, at half the flight's full price
• Front-seat requests (ask at least 24 hours ahead; confirmed only at check-in)

What to Bring

• Sunglasses
• Camera
• A warm jacket
• Closed-toe shoes

Good to Know & Caveats

• Routes can change and flights can be cancelled at short notice for weather; if that happens you are offered a reschedule or a full refund through GetYourGuide.
• The flight needs a minimum number of passengers to depart; if it does not fill you are offered a reschedule or a full refund.
• Passengers are weighed at check-in, and anyone at 120 kg or more must buy a Comfort Seat.
• In summer the snow landing can become an alpine landing on rock if the site has no snow.
• Leave luggage, large bags, drones, selfie sticks, walking sticks and loose clothing behind; high heels are not allowed.

Meeting Point

You check in at Glacier Country Helicopters' office in Franz Josef township (the operator lists 10 Main Road); confirm the address on your voucher.