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Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing, 25 Minutes

Land on a moving glacier. Your pilot picks the spot on the day.

A 25 minute helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier and the West Coast, with a snow landing on the ice. Short, popular and suitable for all ages, so it fits around any itinerary.

⭑ 5.0 24 TripAdvisor reviews 📍 New Zealand ⏱ 25 Minutes 👥 Small group 🔥 Active

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5.0 from 24 TripAdvisor reviews

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Overview

Franz Josef glacier never stays put, so the landing spot changes every day. Your pilot decides based on the weather and where the ice has moved, and you step out onto the snow to breathe in the mountain air. At 25 minutes it is the shortest snow-landing flight on the West Coast, which is exactly why backpackers pick it: you get the ice under your boots without giving up the rest of the day.

You check in at the base on the main road (State Highway 6) through Franz Josef, get weighed and briefed, then lift off over rainforest before the glacier opens up ahead. The route climbs over the lower icefall, the crumpled ice formations and the snowy plains of the neve, with the mountains dropping toward the Tasman Sea behind you. The pilot talks you through what you are looking at the whole way. Then the skids settle on the snow and you get out for photos, a snowball, or just standing there with your mouth open. The 25 minutes includes the landing.

Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure, so arrive before that. Included: the flight, the snow landing and pilot commentary. Bring a warm jacket, sturdy shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen; bags, selfie sticks and iPads stay behind. Each helicopter carries up to six passengers, so it is a shared flight, and it suits all ages. Flights are weather dependent: if the pilot cancels, you rebook another date or take a full refund.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier

  2. 2

    Snow landing on the neve, spot picked on the day

  3. 3

    Icefall and ice formations from above

  4. 4

    Rainforest to ice to Tasman Sea in one flight

  5. 5

    Pilot commentary the whole way

  6. 6

    Shortest snow-landing flight at Franz Josef

  7. 7

    Suitable for all ages

Itinerary at a glance

1 Check-in · Base on State Highway 6, Franz Josef

Check-in closes 30 minutes before your departure. Everyone is weighed for the helicopter's load sheet and gets a safety briefing.

1 Lift-off · Rainforest to glacier

You climb out over the rainforest and follow the valley up to the glacier, with the pilot narrating the route.

1 On the snow · Snow landing on the neve

The pilot picks a safe landing spot on the day. You step out onto the snow for photos and the view down the glacier.

1 Return · Back over the ice

A final pass over the ice formations and West Coast terrain, then back to the base. Total trip time is 25 minutes including the landing.

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Scenic helicopter flight
  • Snow landing on Franz Josef Glacier
  • Pilot commentary
  • Safety briefing at the base

✕ Not included

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

Common questions about this trip

  • Where do I check in and how early?
    The flight leaves from the operator's base on the main road (State Highway 6) in Franz Josef township. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure, so be there before that. You are weighed at check-in for the aircraft's weight and balance, 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. The snow glare is strong even on a grey day. 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 have to stay behind.

  • Is it a private flight?
    No, it is shared. Each helicopter carries up to six passengers or a combined weight of 480kg, and seating is set by the pilot for balance. Flights also have minimum passenger numbers, so the operator may move your time to fill a helicopter.

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

  • What happens if the weather is bad?
    Glacier flying depends on cloud, wind and rain, and the pilot makes the call on the day. If your flight is cancelled for weather, you can rebook another date or cancel for a full refund. The operator also asks you to reconfirm your booking 24 hours before departure.

  • How long am I actually on the snow?
    The 25 minutes covers the whole trip including the landing, so the time on the ground is short: enough for photos and a snowball, not a picnic. Allow around an hour at the base all up for check-in, briefing and the flight.

  • What costs extra?
    Nothing on the day for the flight itself. Getting to Franz Josef, 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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