About this tour
When Sarah from our team booked this helicopter flight over Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, we were after something that actually got us above the ice rather than just walking it from below. The 35-minute sortie lifts you over two of New Zealand's most active glaciers, with a guaranteed landing on the snow at the head of one. The pilot talks you through what you're seeing — the crevasse fields, the flow patterns, the sheer scale of these rivers of ice — and then you step out onto the glacier itself for photos and a proper feel of the altitude and cold. It's busy-season popular on the West Coast, and weather-dependent, but if conditions are right, it delivers the perspective you can't get from the ground.
Highlights
- Aerial view of both glaciers' crevasse networks and ice formations in one flight
- Guaranteed landing on glacier snow — step out and feel the altitude
- Pilot's live commentary explains glacial movement and landscape features
- Wheelchair accessible despite the mountain setting
- Relatively compact 35 minutes — fits a full day around other activities
- Professional pilot doubles as your guide and photographer spotter
- Clear weather reveals peaks and valleys most ground-level tours miss
What to expect
You'll check in with your weight (yes, they need it for helicopter balance), get a safety briefing, and board a small aircraft with a handful of other passengers. The flight climbs quickly over the forested valleys and beige-grey moraine, then opens onto the raw ice — the glaciers are stark, deeply crevassed, and genuinely vast from above. The pilot narrates throughout, pointing out features and fielding questions. After about 20 minutes of flying, you'll land on compacted snow at the glacier's head. It's cold, windy, and the silence is striking. You get 10–15 minutes to walk around, take photos, and absorb the fact you're standing on a moving river of ice. Then back in the helicopter and down.
The pacing works — you're not rushed, but you're not lingering either. Weather is the wildcard; if clouds roll in, the flight can be delayed or rescheduled. The West Coast changes fast, so book with flexibility if you can.
What travellers say
- Landing on glacier ice itself — not just viewing from distance
- Pilot provides informed commentary on glacial geology and movement
- Wheelchair accessible despite remote, mountainous location
- Weather guarantee or rescheduled flight — flexibility built in
- Compact duration suits busy itineraries without skipping the experience
- Small group size keeps the helicopter intimate and personal
- Weather delays and rescheduling are common on West Coast
- 35 minutes total is brief for the price and logistics
- Expensive experience; food and drinks add extra cost
- Requires warm gear and sturdy footwear in cold, windy conditions
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is a genuinely different angle on the glaciers. The aerial perspective shows you the scale and crevasse detail you miss from trails. The landing is the kicker — standing on the glacier ice itself is something most visitors don't experience. Guides are competent pilots who know the area well. Wheelchair accessibility is a real advantage for a mountain tour. Everyone from fit walkers to older travellers can do it, since you're not hiking, just walking a few metres on snow.
Weather is unpredictable; cancellations or rescheduling are common, especially in winter or rainy spells. The flight is brief — 35 minutes total, so if you're hoping for hours in the air, manage expectations. It's pricey for that duration, and it doesn't include food or drinks, so budget for a café stop before or after. The landing is on the glacier itself, so you need warm layers and sturdy boots — no trainers. Infants sit on a parent's lap; children under 15kg do too. Peak season (December–February) books out; go shoulder seasons if possible.
Bring a waterproof jacket, warm hat, gloves, and insulated boots. The helicopter holds roughly 6–8 people. You must declare your weight at booking (it's for fuel and balance, not judgement). Food and drinks aren't provided. The tour runs year-round but weather-dependent.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.