Hike on or helicopter over the Franz Josef Glacier: Recommended tours & tickets

The fly-in, fly-out helihike combines the excitement of walking on the Fox Glacier with the thrill of helicopter flights. By flying in you are able to access and explore a part of the glacier where its forces work hardest and often create spectacular ice caves and arches. Each departure is a true voyage of exploration. There are so many changing features that the guides always find something new. Weather permitting; ice time is up to 3 hours.

Allow 1 hour Our Glacier Explorer excursion departs from Queenstown to take you high above the Wakatipu basin to show off all the surrounding beauty. You will then head on a scenic journey towards an ancient glacier which constantly moves under its own weight. On arrival, the helicopter will shut down on the landing to allow you to enjoy the peace and quiet. Hear the creaking of the glacier, feel the white ice crunch beneath your feet, peer into pure blue crevasses and absorb the stunning scenery of this magical place.  Learn of the glacial recession and monitoring of this permanently frozen world. Your helicopter will then lift off to bring you back on a scenic flight covering more of the Queenstown area including the main surrounding mountain ranges, Queenstown township and the long thin Z -shaped glacial formed lake known as Lake Wakatipu.

Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are two of New Zealand largest glaciers. From above you can view and appreciate the incredible natural phenomenon, towering ice formations and vast size of the glaciers. Top it off with a snow landing and standing on the ancient ice of the glaciers. You’ll also fly over the Tasman Glacier on the eastern side of the Southern Alps and close to Mount Cook/Aoraki, New Zealand’s highest peak.

This premier 40-minute helicopter tour lets you experience two of New Zealand's finest National Parks, divided by the imposing Southern Alps. Discover the gigantic expanse of the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier snowfields with a landing at around 2134 meters (7000 feet). Step out of the helicopter and experience how it feels to walk on snow. Then follow the Main Divide for fantastic views of the Tasman Glacier and Aoraki (Mount Cook) before heading back down towards the lush rainforests at the edge of the Tasman Sea.

Twice the ice! Explore the glacial icefalls of not one but two glaciers - Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier on this 30-minute helicopter flight with a glacier landing along the way. Discover up close their neve and unusual ice formations. You will then land on the snowfields up on one of the glaciers which is a huge highlight and will make for superb photos, snowballs and memories, before heading back down to Fox Glacier Township.