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Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

Two glaciers and a snow landing in a 35 minute flight from Fox Glacier.

A 35 minute helicopter flight from Fox Glacier over both Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, with a snow landing at the head of one of them and views toward Mt Cook.

⭑ 5.0 24 TripAdvisor reviews 📍 New Zealand ⏱ 35 Minutes 👥 Small group 🔥 Active

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Overview

Most glacier flights cover one glacier. This one covers two. You lift off from the base on the main road in Fox Glacier, follow the ice flow up to the upper reaches of both Fox and Franz Josef, and land on the snow at the head of one of them. The 35 minutes includes the landing, and the pilot narrates the whole way.

After check-in and the safety briefing you climb out over the township and up the Fox valley, the glacier unrolling below in crevasses and icefalls. The helicopter crosses the range to Franz Josef so you see the neve of both glaciers from above, with the Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook on the skyline. Then the pilot puts the skids down on the snow at the head of the glacier. You jump out, look back down the path the ice has carved toward the Tasman Sea, take your photos, then fly home.

Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure, so allow about an hour for the whole visit. Included: the flight, the snow landing and pilot commentary. Bring a warm jacket, sturdy shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen, and leave bags, selfie sticks and iPads behind. Each helicopter takes up to six passengers, infants under 15kg ride on an adult's knee, and the flight is weather dependent: if the pilot cancels, you rebook or get a full refund.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Fly over both Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers

  2. 2

    Snow landing at the head of the glacier

  3. 3

    Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook on the skyline

  4. 4

    Follows the ice flow from township to neve

  5. 5

    35 minute trip from Fox Glacier

  6. 6

    Pilot commentary throughout

Itinerary at a glance

1 Check-in · Base on the main road (SH6), Fox Glacier

Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. Weigh-in and safety briefing, then out to the helicopter.

1 Fox Glacier · Up the Fox valley

Over the township and up the ice flow, crevasses and icefalls below, with the pilot talking you through it.

1 Franz Josef · Across to the second glacier

The helicopter crosses to Franz Josef's upper reaches, with the Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook in view.

1 On the snow · Snow landing at the head of the glacier

Skids down on the snow for photos and the view back down the valley, then the flight home. 35 minutes all up including the landing.

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Scenic helicopter flight
  • Snow landing atop the glacier
  • Pilot commentary
  • Safety briefing at the base

✕ Not included

  • ✕Transport to the base in Fox Glacier
  • ✕Meals and drinks
  • ✕Travel insurance
  • ✕Bags on board (not permitted)

Common questions about this trip

  • Where do I check in and how early?
    At the operator's base on the main road (State Highway 6) in Fox Glacier township. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure, so be there before that, and allow about an hour all up for check-in, the safety briefing and the flight. You are weighed at check-in, and if you are 15kg or more over the weight you declared at booking the flight may need to be rescheduled.

  • What should I wear and bring?
    A warm jacket, comfortable sturdy shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring your phone or camera and keep large cameras on a strap. Bags, selfie sticks and iPads are not permitted on board, and loose clothing and scarves stay behind.

  • Which glacier do you land on?
    At the head of either Fox or Franz Josef, whichever the pilot judges best for the conditions that day. You fly over both regardless.

  • Is it a shared flight?
    Yes. Each helicopter carries up to six passengers or a combined weight of 480kg, and the pilot sets seating for balance. Flights have minimum passenger numbers, so the operator may adjust your departure time to fill a helicopter.

  • Can kids and babies come?
    Yes. Children must fly with a paying adult. Infants under 15kg sit on an adult's knee; over 15kg they need their own seat.

  • What happens if the weather is bad?
    Flights, landings and routes change with the weather and at the pilot's discretion. If your flight is cancelled for weather you can rebook another date or cancel for a full refund. The operator asks you to reconfirm 24 hours before departure.

  • What costs extra?
    Nothing on the day for the flight. Getting to Fox Glacier, food and travel insurance are on you.

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    No refund is given for no-shows or changes made less than 24 hours before departure. If weather stops a flight at the booked location, the voucher can be used at another base for a flight of similar duration and price, or refunded if it cannot be rescheduled. Wanderlust handles the refund for you, refunds mirror the operator's terms 1:1 (including if the operator cancels) and we chase it on your behalf.

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What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.

The operator's track record

5.0 on TripAdvisor · 24 reviews

Review excerpts below are from Tripadvisor.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Amazing flight to see the glaciers up close and the snow landing was a great photo opportunity."
c

cindyleeg24

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"The flight experience was awesome. Got to land on the snow and get out the helicopter for pics and to look around us."
F

F7521WAdeanc

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Multiple free pick up / drop off points across Queenstown, so you are pretty much covered even if you don't drive. Briefing and the tour was conducted professionally, and they even take effort to swap the passengers around for the return journey so everyone gets a front seat or window seat at some point."
P

Pramainc

Tripadvisor review

Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.

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