New Zealand · GLACIER TOURS IN FRANZ JOSEF & THE WEST COAST
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 glacier tours in Franz Josef & the West Coast justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part of planning.
25-minute helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier, with a 10-minute snow or alpine landing for photos. $230, weather dependent.
“Absolutely brilliant, Poppy was the perfect pilot- so glad we did it”
Fly to Franz Josef Glacier, land on the ice, and hike past caves and crevasses with expert guides, full gear, and small groups.
“An amazing tour and experience! Knowledgeable guide and the hike was well planned out. Totally worth it and highly recommend!”
See Fox Glacier from the air then hike on ice with crampons and guides, weather-dependent and safety-first, small-group, 4 hours.
“We enjoyed every minute but you should be prepared for a lot of walking. The guides took it slow. Also, was not aware about bringing medication, should you have to spend the night. High light of our trip!”
35-minute helicopter flight over Franz Josef plus Fox or Tasman glaciers, with a 10-minute snow landing and live pilot commentary.
“Wonderful trip. Our pilot/guide was fantastic. Our trip was well planned and we flew over dramatic landscapes.”
Small-group kayak tour from Franz Josef to Lake Mapourika, paddling a kiwi estuary and rainforest, with gear, transport, and photo delivery.
“Danny was our guide, she is wonderful. The kayak was one of the best that we have done in years. We have done a few but this one was unique. It was raining that day a I thought this was not going to be good, but then the water is warmer and as we reached the mirror river, things began to clear up, and it was so calm and beautiful. Because of the rain, the chopper were not flying so it was clam, quiet and beautiful. It was memorable. Thank you Dani for this experience.”
Helicopter over Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, with a snow landing and pilot commentary. Panoramic Southern Alps views in 35 mins.
“We were lucky to have a great day for the helicopter ride which I’m sure makes all the difference.”
A 35-minute helicopter hop over Franz Josef plus Fox or Tasman, with a weather-permitting snow landing for photos in a small group.
“The Franz Josef heli tour was absolutely incredible! We got to land on the snow and see multiple glaciers up close. Our pilot, Mark, was fantastic—he clearly knew the area well and shared interesting details about each glacier we flew over. The whole experience was unforgettable and I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting!”
Franz Josef heli-hike: fly by helicopter to the glacier, strap on crampons, and take a guided walk through crevasses, caves, and ice.
“We have wanted to do the Heli-hike on Franz Joseph since 2019 when our trip was cancelled due to bad weather. To say we were excited this time around was an understatement we absolutely had the most amazing day. Our guide was ABBEY she was a bundle of energy and a wealth of knowledge on the history of the Glacier, and we felt we were in great hands. Our helicopter ride up the mountain was amazing it's one of the experiences in life that you MUST do. We had the most spectacular weather with not a cloud in the sky making for sensational photos that we will treasure forever. We…”
Fox Glacier heli-hike with two flights and up to 3 hours on ice caves and arches. Gear and guide included, 4 hours.
“Really enjoyed the experience. I was lucky to be in the front seat so had excellent views on the flight. Lovely features to explore on the ice and great equipment provided. Would have been nice to cover a bit more ground up there - not really a ‘hike’ - but a really cool experience in every way!”
25-minute helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier with a 10-minute alpine landing stop, dramatic West Coast views included.
“A different and experience. Rachel the pilot was perfectly fine and gave a sense of security. Megan the receptin girl works with tourists and should make an effort to be nicer and more helpful.”
25-minute Franz Josef glacier helicopter with snow landing. Step onto an icefield, spot crevasses from above, and snap photos fast.
“Our 2pm flight was canceled due to cloud cover but the staff were able to put us on an 8am the next day. We had blue skies and wonderful conditions. It’s only a very short amount of time out of the helicopter, just enough time to get some pics and head back down. The flight itself was amazing, flying low over the glacier and up close to the waterfall.”
Twin Glacier helicopter flight in Franz Josef with snow landing on the ice, plus Fox Glacier views from the air and pilot narration.
“Waking to cloud cover only to see the skies clearing just in time to lift off and be able to land on the glacier..a stunning view of snow and ice and a truly amazing experience. Tim was our pilot and gave us an unforgettable and joyous trip.”
Gentle Fox Glacier valley walk through Westland rainforest with a local guide, geothermal hand dip, hot drinks, and Mt Tasman views.
“Tyler our guide was first rate. Put our needs and safety first. He was expert in his commentary and took us to explore as well as hike. Dealt with our questions and suggested other walks. A great trip”
Guided rainforest walk into Franz Josef Glacier Valley with small groups, wildlife spotting, and warm tea in wet weather.
“Tyler and Cliff were amazing guides today. They both extremely knowledgeable and a great laugh. We did not have the best weather but we were still able to see and learn about so many amazing things! Not only did they provide you with walking boots, waterproofs and umbrellas if needed they were there to give a helping hand over some of the more tricky areas. I would highly recommend this tour!”
Cruise Lake Mapourika and step into a private Kiwi Sanctuary rainforest walk near Franz Josef, with tea, birds, and guide stories.
“This tour goes rain or shine and it was raining for our tour. The rain did not take away anything! The tour was so enjoyable. Nicole is so knowledgeable and passionate about the rainforest and the preservation of New Zealand. She made the experience very enjoyable. There was a fun little bird that she named Freddie who followed us on the tour😊”
From the fiords to the geothermal belt, sorted by what you want to do with the day.
