35-Minute Helicopter Flight over Two Glaciers Franz Josef

Franz Josef Glacier

The Franz Josef Glacier, known in Māori as Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere, flows about 12 kilometres from the snowfields of the Southern Alps down towards the temperate rainforest of the West Coast. Few glaciers in the world end so close to the sea and so low among green forest, which is why a Franz Josef glacier helicopter flight is one of the most memorable things to do on New Zealand's South Island.

From the air you see the whole length of the ice: the wide névé where snow collects, the steep icefall where the glacier breaks into blue seracs and deep crevasses, and the grey valley floor it has carved over thousands of years. The glacier has retreated a long way in recent decades, so walking on it now needs a helicopter, and the view from above is the best way to understand its size. It is the first glacier on your route and sets the scene for the rest of the flight.

Fox Glacier or Tasman Glacier

After Franz Josef your pilot continues to a second glacier. On most days this is the Fox Glacier, Te Moeka o Tuawe, about 20 kilometres to the south, a long, steep tongue of ice running between sheer rock walls down to the rainforest. On some routes the flight crosses the Main Divide instead and shows you the Tasman Glacier, the longest glacier in New Zealand, lying on the drier eastern side of the Alps beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook.

Which glacier you see depends on cloud and wind on the day; the pilot always chooses the safest and clearest line, so routes can change at short notice. Either way you get a real sense of how the Southern Alps feed huge rivers of ice on both sides of the range. Keep your camera ready on this stretch: the light on the crevasses and ice pinnacles changes every few seconds as the helicopter turns.

The Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook from the air

Between the two glaciers you fly amongst the snowy summits of the Southern Alps, the mountain chain that runs down the spine of the South Island. On a clear day Aoraki/Mount Cook, at 3,724 metres the highest peak in New Zealand, rises above the surrounding ridges together with Mount Tasman and other summits over 3,000 metres.

This high country lies inside Te Wāhipounamu, the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, which protects glaciers, fiords and ancient forests. Through your headset the pilot explains how the mountains were pushed up along the Alpine Fault and how heavy West Coast rain and snow keep the glaciers alive. The best time to visit Franz Josef for clear flights is often early morning, when the air is calm, so an early departure is a good choice if your schedule allows.

Snow landing and Franz Josef village

The flight includes a stop at an elevated snow landing site, where you step out for about 10 minutes to walk on the snow, breathe the cold mountain air and take photos of the peaks around you. Wear closed-toe shoes, sunglasses and a jacket, as the glare and the temperature up high are very different from the village below.

Flights start from Franz Josef, a small village on State Highway 6 on the West Coast, about two and a half hours' drive south of Hokitika and a popular overnight stop on road trips. Check in at the office at the south end of the main street, opposite the police station; from there you are transferred to the hangar. If you are wondering how to get to Franz Josef Glacier without a long hike, this flight is the easiest answer, and we confirm your seat quickly so you can plan the rest of your day.