What to wear

What do they give you on a heli hike?

Boots, socks, crampons, a pole, a waterproof jacket and over-trousers on both glaciers. Franz Josef adds a hat, gloves and a small waist pack.

From the operators' own lists:

Sources: Franz Josef Glacier Guides FAQ and Fox Glacier Guiding FAQ. Guests report that Fox asks you to wear their boots, not your own. A Franz Josef guest summed it up: "They give you everything you need so no need to travel with heavy snow pants or jackets."

What should you wear under the waterproofs?

Thin warm layers you can peel off: a merino or synthetic base layer, a fleece, and something wind-proof. Long trousers, not jeans.

• Top: 2 to 4 layers at Franz Josef, 3 to 4 at Fox. Fox suggests a light shirt, a long-sleeved fleece and a windbreaker.
• Fabric: merino or polypropylene. Cotton holds sweat and gets cold when you stop.
• Legs: leggings, trackpants or light walking trousers. Both companies say no jeans: denim soaks up water and stiffens. Fox allows shorts in summer under the over-trousers.
• Head and hands: lent at Franz Josef; bring your own if you prefer them.

Don't overdo it on a sunny day. A February guest at Franz Josef noted the guide "only wore a T Shirt on top" and advised: "Don't over do the under layers on a warm day." A Fox guest in summer: "we didn't need all the clothes they recommended." Layers solve both cases.

How cold is it on the glacier?

Milder than you'd think: about +5 to +15 °C in summer and -5 to +10 °C in winter, by both operators' figures. Wind and cloud make it feel colder.

Franz Josef Glacier Guides says that in summer the ice is "typically only a few degrees colder than on the ground", and in winter about eight to ten degrees cooler than the village, with wind chill on top (FJGG FAQ). Fox Glacier Guiding gives the same ranges (FAQ).

Sun on snow is the bigger risk. The ice reflects most of the light back at you, so you burn under the chin and nose on a cloudy day too. Guests on both glaciers say they got warm and shed layers once they started climbing.

What can't you bring on a heli hike?

Backpacks, selfie sticks, power banks, spare batteries, vapes, lighters and drones. Your phone and camera are fine.

Space and weight in the helicopter are tight. Franz Josef Glacier Guides asks you to leave valuables, portable chargers, selfie sticks, vapes, cigarettes, lighters and drones behind, and gives you a waist pack for the rest. Fox Glacier Guiding sets a 3 kg carry-on limit per passenger. Drones are illegal in the national park anyway; Fox warns of confiscation and a fine.

What fits: phone, a small camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, a small water bottle and a snack. One guest found the snack hard to fit in: "they advised us to bring snacks, but we never had a clear moment to eat them." Eat breakfast before check-in. A wrist strap for your phone helps: a Fox guide once fished a guest's phone out of a crevasse.

How fit do you need to be?

Moderately fit: able to walk for two to three hours on uneven ice, up and down steps cut into it. If you can't keep up, there is no refund.

The Franz Josef listing is direct: walks are moderately difficult, guides may curtail the trip for anyone not fit enough, and "Refunds will not be available for clients who cannot participate on the day due to inappropriate fitness levels." The pace is slow, with frequent stops while the guide cuts steps. Crampons grip well; a nervous Fox guest wrote that they "give so much traction that I didn't have a single fear of slipping."

Age is less of an issue than knees and balance. Guests in their mid-60s report managing well on both glaciers. If you doubt it, a snow-landing flight gives you the snow without the hike.

What are the age, weight and medical limits?

Franz Josef: age 10, 35 to 115 kg, 137 cm. Fox: age 9, up to 116 kg. Neither takes pregnant travellers, and some medical conditions must be declared.

• Franz Josef heli hike: minimum age 10 (14 for the 5.5-hour option), 35 to 115 kg, at least 137 cm tall (FJGG).
• Fox heli hike: minimum age 9, 116 kg per person; the listing asks for no heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
• Pregnancy: Franz Josef Glacier Guides does not guide pregnant women. Fox points out it is 200 km from the nearest maternity hospital.
• Declare at booking: the Franz Josef heli hike sold from Queenstown lists ankle or knee injuries, ACL damage, joint replacements or dislocations, neck or back injuries, heart conditions and high or low blood pressure, diabetes and severe asthma. If in doubt, ask your doctor first.

Give your real weight when you book. The helicopter's load is calculated seat by seat, which is why the limits are strict.

From age 9 and up to 116 kg: the Fox heli hike, with boots, crampons and waterproofs lent.

★ 4.9 · 4 hours · from $507

Explore the Fox Glacier heli hike → Tour details

What should you wear on the free valley walks?

A rain jacket, shoes with grip, and insect repellent for the sandflies. Trainers are fine on the short tracks; boots for Roberts Point.

The Franz Josef and Fox valley tracks cross gravel riverbeds and forest paths that stay wet. Sturdy trainers or walking shoes do for the 30-minute glacier walk, Sentinel Rock and Peters Pool. For Roberts Point and Lake Gault, wear boots. Pack a waterproof even on a blue morning; the weather turns fast here.

Sandflies are the West Coast's tax on standing still. They bite at car parks, lake edges and viewpoints, less so once you keep moving. Long sleeves and a repellent help. The guided valley walks lend raincoats, over-trousers, umbrellas and boots, so you can turn up in what you have. Full walk list in the valley walk guide.

What should you wear for kayaking on Lake Mapourika?

Loose, comfortable clothes that can get damp, no jeans, and a warm layer. The operator lends splash jackets and dry bags, plus gloves and hats in winter.

Franz Josef Wilderness Tours supplies all equipment on the Lake Mapourika kayak tour, including dry bags, splash jackets, and gloves and hats in winter. The kayak and walk listing asks for loose comfortable clothing and walking shoes, and says "jeans are not recommended." Quick-dry trousers and a fleece are ideal.

Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and repellent for the walk. One guest noted the sandflies "are not an issue at all once in the lake." The trip runs in light rain, which makes it a good back-up when the helicopters are grounded; see weather and cancellations.

Frequently asked questions