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Franz Josef Glacier: Small-Group Heli-Hike Adventure
4.6
640 Ratings
Franz Josef / Waiau
Explore Franz Josef Glacier by helicopter and hike. Discover stunning ice formations, learn about environmental changes, and enjoy a personalized adventure in a small group.
Explore Franz Josef Glacier by helicopter and hike. Discover stunning ice formations, learn about environmental changes, and enjoy a personalized adventure in a small group.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Franz Josef Glacier - Discover the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier, renowned as one of the world’s most unique glaciers. As the fastest moving glacier globally, each visit offers a distinct experience. Accessible exclusively by helicopter, start your 2-hour adventure with a stunning scenic flight to the glacier, followed by an unparalleled glacier hike!
- Franz Josef Glacier - Discover the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier, renowned as one of the world’s most unique glaciers. As the fastest moving glacier globally, each visit offers a distinct experience. Accessible exclusively by helicopter, start your 2-hour adventure with a stunning scenic flight to the glacier, followed by an unparalleled glacier hike!
What's Included
- 2-hours 15 minutes (approx.) guided glacier walk
- All hiking equipment (Gore-tex jackets, over trousers, woolen hats and gloves, leather boots, crampons)
- Round-trip helicopter flights to Franz Josef Glacier
- 2-hours 15 minutes (approx.) guided glacier walk
- All hiking equipment (Gore-tex jackets, over trousers, woolen hats and gloves, leather boots, crampons)
- Round-trip helicopter flights to Franz Josef Glacier
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
Explore the stunning natural wonders of New Zealand on a small-group 2-hour and 30-minute Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike. Accompanied by a guide, take a helicopter ride to the Pinnacles area of the glacier. Embark on a moderately challenging hike through the intricate ice formations. Discover the significant environmental changes impacting the glacier…
Explore the stunning natural wonders of New Zealand on a small-group 2-hour and 30-minute Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike. Accompanied by a guide, take a helicopter ride to the Pinnacles area of the glacier. Embark on a moderately challenging hike through the intricate ice formations. Discover the significant environmental changes impacting the glacier and understand the geological forces involved. With a maximum group size of 11, enjoy a personalized adventure.
- Minimum age is 10 years old for the 2.5 hour trip and 14 for the 5.5 hour trip
- Minimum weight is 35kg, Maximum weight 115kg
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Glacier walks are moderately difficult, clients need to be fit and able. Refunds will not be available for clients who cannot participate on the day due to inappropriate fitness levels, i.e. it is important you are selecting the right trip for your physical fitness ability. Guides reserve the right to curtail or cancel trips for clients whose fitness is not appropriate
- Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately. Two to four warm upper- body layers of clothing are recommended, quick-drying trousers or shorts (no jeans), a hat and gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and a camera
- The Operator reserves the absolute right to cancel or vary any service for any reason including as a result of weather conditions, insufficient reservations or any unforeseen event or circumstance. These trips are weather dependent.
- For Health and Safety reasons, we are unable to guide pregnant women. Please note: We have a weight limit of 115kg per person on the Heli Hike.
Location
Franz Josef Glacier Guides
Check-in 15 minutes prior to your trip time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(640 Ratings)
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Bradley_s
Feb 11, 2026
Awesome day on the ice - I had so much fun. Both the helicopter ride and hiking around on the glacier were awesome. Luckily the clouds held off. Zoe was a great guide. Even managing a child who was not easy to manage by any means.
Book an early time slot for less risk of clouds that can cause cancellations.
Review provided by Viator
154ingridj
Feb 11, 2026
Absolutely recommend! - Absolutely loved the heli hike. Gus provided me with information about the heli hike before I booked, and he reassured me when I was feeling nervous during preparation before the heli flight. Yula was our amazing guide. She’s a very kind, approachable, informative, patient guide, she cared for our safety, and she even took pictures for us. It was a one in a lifetime experience, made so much better, more comfortable, and fun because of Gus and Yula. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F4576fshollyc
Feb 8, 2026
Unforgettable - Had an amazing time on the glacier heli hike. Franz Josef is a beautiful place and we loved experiencing the landscape and terrain of the glacier. The helicopter ride was spectacular. Our guide Kirk was super and very knowledgeable throughout. Book it now!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Natalienz8716gv
Feb 4, 2026
Experience of a lifetime - Experience of a lifetime to walk / spend 2 hours on the glacier. Felt very well looked after, safety was paramount, fantastic organisation and preparation. Zoe was an excellent guide, she worked really hard cutting the trail with an axe! Can’t rate Franz Josef Glacier Guides high enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabeth_s
Feb 1, 2026
Fab Day - Guri was a fab guide! We lucked into a fab day and we're able to experience the glacier in its finest. Recommend an early start .
Review provided by Viator
Rowanf440
Jan 24, 2026
Fab heli tour! Lovely guides - Oh my gosh what an experience! Our tour had to be changed due to the weather but the guides were fab and managed to get us booked in the next day for a different experience. Our new guide Zoe was lovely and told us everything we needed to know for our next adventure! Could not recommend more!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
914darylm
Jan 23, 2026
Professional run operation for unique experience. - Look at the pictures... words can't do justice to this amazing place. Professionally run with top guides deliver a great experience. Thanks, Ulla.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wander13466232357
Jan 21, 2026
Amazing experience - Excellent trip with Gus as our guide. The whole experience was professionally organised with safety at the forefront without being too much. All equipment provided was of a very good standard. Gus was extremely knowledgeable and also made it fun and interesting. The helicopter ride was fabulous too with beautiful views. Highly recommend the heli hike experience, it’s a fantastic trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sionbach1996
Jan 21, 2026
Glacier heli hike - Amazing experience and scenery
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lonita_a
Jan 21, 2026
The staff members I... - The staff members I interacted with were knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. They were very clear about what to expect on the glacier.
The helicopter ride provided a beautiful view of the glacier.
The group I was in was guided by Kurt. He was friendly and seemed very capable. I enjoyed his story about the Māori name for the glacier.
The hike itself was nice, though not as interesting as I had hoped (though looking back, I’m not sure how I expected it to be more exciting). We walked single file behind the guide. We would often pause, which gave us time to take pictures, as the guide did some maintenance on the trail. If you’ve hiked on ice and hard packed snow, this really isn’t all that different.
Our hike was cut short by the weather. I appreciate that the staff was so safety conscious in that way. I received a partial refund due to this, which I also greatly appreciated.
I would recommend this to others, especially those not accustomed to winter weather conditions. I went on it because I was missing snow and cold weather, this gave me a bit of that so I am thankful I tried it. And again, I really did appreciate all the staff members, I would recommend the company because of them.
Review provided by Viator
