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Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike – The Ultimate New Zealand Glacier Experience
If you’re looking for a thrilling and unforgettable adventure, look no further than the Franz Josef Glacier. Nestled in Glacier Country on the West Coast the Franz Josef Glacier is an absolute must-see location, both for its incredible scenery and for the exciting heli hiking tours it has to offer.
Whether you’re a novice hiker or an experienced adventurer, a Franz Josef Heli Hiking Tour will become one of your cherished adventures in New Zealand and taking a helicopter ride to the top of the glacier is an experience you won’t want to miss.
Franz Josef Glacier moves faster than most glaciers, creating unique ice features making it one of the best New Zealand glaciers to discover stunning ice formations, towering ice walls, blue ice tunnels, and ice caves.
Flowing from the Southern Alps to Westland’s National Park rainforest, it is one of New Zealand’s steepest glaciers with the lowest terminal face elevation of any glacier in a temperate rainforest worldwide.
In a hurry?
These are the best heli hikes and tours of Franz Josef Glacier:
Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike
Franz Josef Heli Hiking Guided Tour
Franz Josef Helihike from Queenstown
Mt Cook Supreme scenic flight w. landing
Tandem Skydive 20,000ft
What’s the best way to see Franz Josef Glacier
A glacial heli hike is the ultimate way to experience Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. Not only does it allow you to walk on the glacier itself, but it also takes you to higher and more remote locations than you could reach on foot.
The helicopter ride alone offers a unique and exhilarating experience, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. As you explore the glacier, you’ll have the opportunity to discover hidden glacial caves and crevasses. Walking on the glacier feels like you’re on a different planet!
A Franz Josef Heli Hike is an unparalleled adventure that combines the thrill of a helicopter ride, awe-inspiring views, and otherworldly glacial landscapes. Make sure to book your Franz Josef glacier helicopter hike well ahead of time as they’re often booked out weeks in advance.
The best Franz Josef Heli Hike Tours
A Franz Josef Heli Hike is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should absolutely be on your bucket list. Seeing the glacier it up-close-and-personal is an experience you’ll never forget.
Since Franz Josef Glacier is a protected and fragile ecosystem, visitors are only allowed to explore with a guided tour. There are numerous tours to choose from, but not all hikes are created equal.
To make your life easier, I’ve taken the liberty and done all the research for you. Below you’ll find a list of the absolute best Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hikes. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike
Tour duration: 4h
Hike duration: 2h 15min
You’ll kick things off with a safety briefing and the provision of essential protective gear, including a cozy Gore-tex jacket, trousers, woolen hat, gloves, and sturdy leather boots equipped with crampons – all you need for your upcoming glacier exploration.
Then, it’s time to hop aboard the helicopter for an awe-inspiring aerial journey over the picturesque Southern Alps and its breathtaking surroundings. After a brief flight, brace yourself for an exhilarating yet gentle landing atop the formidable Franz Josef Glacier.
Ice axe in hand, and your expert guide by your side, embark on a hike through this frozen wonderland, passing by striking ice formations, intricate ice caves, towering pinnacles, and awe-inspiring seracs.
As you traverse the glacier’s unique landscape, your guide will provide insights into the geological forces that have shaped this otherworldly environment, making this experience not just thrilling but also incredibly educational.
Franz Josef Heli Hiking Guided Tour
Tour duration: 3h
Hike duration: 2h
After gearing up in a waterproof jacket, glacier boots, and crampons, you’ll hop aboard the AS355 Squirrel helicopter – designed for thrill-seekers like you. Soar over breathtaking landscapes, including the 7.5-mile-long Franz Josef Glacier, with its towering peaks and icy wonders.
Then comes the thrilling part – a high-altitude glacier landing, where you’ll embark on a guided hike across this pristine icy terrain, discovering hidden ice caves, dramatic pinnacles, and seracs along the way.
Learn about the glacier’s history and conditions from your expert guide and capture some incredible photos. Finally, hop back on the helicopter for your return trip to town, capping off a truly epic adventure!
BOOK YOUR HELI HIKING GUIDED TOUR
Franz Josef Glacier Helihike from Queenstown
Tour duration: 6h
Hike duration: 2h
This Franz Josef Heli-hike adventure departing from Queenstown, offers a time-efficient and convenient solution for those with tight schedules. The West Coast is remote and challenging to reach, but by flying there you’ll be there in the blink of an eye.
Your journey begins with an one-hour scenic flight to Franz Josef town, providing you with sweeping views of Mt Aspiring park and gorgeous landscapes below.
Upon touching down on the West Coast, you’ll meet your guides and hop on a scenic helicopter flight to a remote section of the glacier. The helicopter ride offers breathtaking vistas of deep crevasses, enchanting icefalls, and cascading waterfalls before landing gracefully on the upper icefall of Franz Josef Glacier.
Equipped with crampons you’ll commence a two-hour hike across the glacier’s icy terrain, exploring mysterious ice caves and witness the ever-changing marvels of this glacier.
BOOK YOUR HELI HIKE FROM QUEENSTOWN
What to expect form a Franz Josef Heli Hike
A heli-hike in Franz Josef offers access to remote glacier terrain, even for beginners.
The tour starts by gearing up and with a safety briefing. You’ll be given appropriate clothing, boots and crampons. Next, you’ll be flown over the Southern Alps to the glacier, which is a tremendously scenic flight.
You’ll land on the glacier and start the guided hike. As the glacier is ever-changing, each tour is unique. After two to three hours on the glacier, you’ll hop back on the helicopter for a scenic flight back to town.
All tours are customized to your abilities and the ice conditions with safety being a top priority. Throughout the tour, your guide will offer guidance and support to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience.
What if the weather is bad?
A Franz Josef heli hike is dependent on the weather circumstances and tours can often be rescheduled or even cancelled.
Not only the West Coast is renowned for bad weather which might impair helicopter flights, but the Franz Josef Glacier is a fragile and constantly changing natural formation which can be affected by weather conditions.
The tour agency you book with will contact you in the morning of your booking to confirm the departure time or let you know that you have to reschedule because of the weather.
If you can, schedule a couple of days in the area to ensure you get an appropriate weather window for the heli hike.
At the time of writing, all tours recommended offer a full refund if your tour gets canceled due to poor weather. However, make sure to check this before writing as T&C might change.
What to pack for a Heli Hike in Franz Josef?
When going on a heli hike tour in Franz Josef, it’s important to dress appropriately for the cold and often wet conditions on the glacier. Your tour company will provide you with protective gear, including a Gore-tex jacket, trousers, a hat, gloves, appropriate boots, and crampons.
Layering your clothing is recommended so you can easily adjust your if you feel warm during the hike. It’s advisable to wear a thermal base layer, and if you tend to feel cold easily, consider wearing long johns.
Ensure you wear warm hiking socks and bring an extra pair in case they get wet. While the tour operator provides hats and gloves, you might find it more comfortable to wear your own.
Keep in mind that the sun is intense on the glacier, even on cloudy days, and the UV rays reflect off the white snow. Apply an ample amount of sunscreen and wear polarized sunglasses for protection.
Since the hike lasts several hours, remember to pack water or tea in a thermos.
What level of fitness is required for a Heli Hike?
A regular to moderate level of fitness is necessary for a glacier heli hike. The total time on the ice is about three hours, and you need to be comfortable hiking on uneven and slippery terrain.
Tours are customized to the group abilities and the ice conditions of the day. Safety is a top priority and the pace is set to accommodate the slowest members of the group.
Your guide will carry an ice pick to carve out steps if needed and you can use your hiking poles for balance. The tour includes plenty of stops for photos and so you can rest a bit, however, if the glacier hike exceeds your comfort zone, inform your guide for an alternate route.
Is the Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike worth it
A Franz Josef heli hike isn’t cheap but it is totally worth it! It provides a unique opportunity to hike on the Franz Josef Glacier, which is a spectacular natural wonder and a once in a lifetime experience for many people.
The tour includes a helicopter ride which is a bucket list item per se. On the glacier you will explore the ice formations and crevasses, you’ll get a chance to see the glacier up close in a way that is not possible through other means, and you’ll even hear the water flowing underneath.
However, if you’ve already ridden a helicopter and hiked a glacier in the past, this experience won’t be as novel for you. I still believe it’s worth it, especially considering it is not possible to hike the Franz Josef glacier on your own accord and considering that the glacier is reclining, this activity will not be possible forever.
Alternative ways of seeing Franz Josef Glacier
Scenic flight
Taking a scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier provides a bird’s-eye view and awe-inspiring vistas of the glacier’s icy expanse, the rugged Southern Alps, the lush rainforests that fringe this dramatic landscape, the rugged West Coast shore and out to the sea.
The aerial perspective allows you to appreciate the sheer scale and beauty of the glaciers, and you get to admire multiple glaciers, mountain peaks and lakes in the area. For the ultimate adventure, opt for a scenic flight with a snow landing.
Book your adventure:
Mount Cook and The Glaciers Helicopter Flight (55min with snow landing)
Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight (30min with snow landing)
Mt Cook Supreme (60 min, 4 glaciers, 2 snow sandings)
Skydive
There are many opportunities for skydiving in New Zealand but flying over the Southern Alps, and seeing Mt. Cook and the glaciers from above while free-falling off a plane has to beat them all!
You can do a ‘baby’ jump from as low as 9000ft, but the real deal is the 18,000ft jump. With 85 seconds of free fall, this is the highest skydive in New Zealand.
Book your adventure
Franz Josef Glacier Walk
The Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk is among the more popular easy walks on the South Island. It takes about an hour return and the track is fairly flat and easy.
This 1.7-kilometer (1-mile) return track has recently been changed and been shortened due to the the trail access has been cut off by the river.
Previously, it allowed you to walk closer to the glacier, taking you through the valley, alongside the river, and even past a waterfall! Now you can only hike to the viewpoint of the valley and glacier.
Unfortunately, Franz Josef Glacier is receding so it’s quite far in the distance even from the view point. With that said, this is the only free way to see Franz Josef Glacier without doing a strenuous hike.
Alex Knob Hike
This challenging 17km hike with a 1200m elevation is suitable for experienced and well-prepared trekkers only. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before setting off.
The hike to the top is quite long, and uphill for most of the way. While you’ll encounter rocks and tree roots, there’s no challenging scrambling involved. If you don’t want to walk the whole way, there are two viewpoints along the route where you can turn around.
Rata Lookout (4.5km from the trailhead) provides a nice view of Franz Josef Glacier, although it offers a slightly more restricted perspective compared to the next lookout along the trail.
Christmas Lookout (6km from the trailhead) provides a comparable vantage point to Rata. However, situated at a higher elevation with a more open setting, it offers a significantly more expansive view.
Alex Knob Summit (8.5km from the trailhead) provides the most spectacular view of Franz Josef Glacier, along with the breathtaking mountain range that surrounds it.
If you’re primarily interested in glacier views, this hike offers an excellent and affordable way to enjoy Franz Josef. However, if you’re looking to actually step foot on the glacier, the heli hike is the only available choice.
Where to stay in Franz Josef
The village of Franz Josef is tiny but well prepared for tourists and offers a multitude of accommodation options as well as restaurants and bars. If you have a car you can opt to stay slightly out of town for a more tranquil experience in nature, or stay in the village for easy access to everything.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Large house in a quiet area of town with a fully equiped kitchen.
A LUXURIOUS OASIS
Sleek, modern design, a hot tub with stunning views, and exceptional facilities nd service.
TRANQUIL & REMOTE
A gorgeous wooden chalet, overlooking green fields and snow-capped mountains.
New Zealand is best explored by campervan!
Roam free with the flexibility of a campervan in New Zealand. Set your own pace, wake up to new views every day, and make unforgettable memories along the way!
Fox Glacier or Franz Josef Glacier?
The West Coast of New Zealand is famous for its three things: the astonishing amount of rainfall, its rugged coastline, and its breathtaking glaciers.
Among these glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox are the stars of the show. Their terminal faces have relatively low altitudes compared to other glaciers at similar latitudes worldwide making it easier to reach.
Franz Josef Glacier descends steeply from the Southern Alps almost to sea level. This steep incline results in intense movement of ice, meaning you can encounter impressive glacial features such as seracs (ice towers), crevasses, and tunnels that enhance the renowned ‘blue ice’ visitor experience.
Fox Glacier heli hikes are slightly cheaper but because the glacier has a more gentle descent, the ice moves slower and results in less glacial features.
