# FranzJosefGlacierHike.com - Franz Josef and Fox Glacier walks, heli hikes and tours, compared

> Independent guide to hiking at Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier (West Coast, New Zealand): what you can reach on foot
> for free, what needs a helicopter, guided valley walks, heli hikes, snow-landing flights, lake trips, prices and weather.
> Not affiliated with any tour or helicopter operator, the Department of Conservation or Viator.

Site: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com
Language: en. Currency: USD for online tours (NZD for operator prices). Country: New Zealand (Westland Tai Poutini National Park).

## Verified facts

- Nobody can walk onto Franz Josef Glacier or Fox Glacier from the valley. Guided walks from the Franz Josef valley floor stopped in 2012; a helicopter is the only way onto the ice.
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides is the only company allowed to guide on Franz Josef Glacier. Fox Glacier Guiding guides on Fox Glacier.
- Franz Josef Glacier / Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk (DOC): 1.7 km return, about 30 min, from the car park at the end of Glacier Access Road; the viewing area is about 3 km from the terminal face; the Waiho River blocks access further up the valley.
- Sentinel Rock Walk 900 m return, 20 min; Peters Pool 1.1 km return, 25 min; Roberts Point Track 12.3 km return, about 5 h 20 min.
- Paid parking at the Franz Josef Glacier car park since December 2025: NZ$2.50 per half hour (NZ$5 an hour) or NZ$20 per day, card only, 10 minutes free from 1 September 2026 (20 minutes during the pilot); DOC continued the scheme after the pilot ended in June 2026.
- Fox Glacier access road closed permanently after a 2019 landslide. Fox Glacier South Side Walkway: car park 2 km south of the village, viewpoint after about 40-50 min, about 2.6 km from the ice (Glacier Country daily update, Oct 2026).
- Lake Matheson loop 4.4 km, 1 h 30 min; reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.
- Franz Josef heli hike: NZ$899 direct (valid to 30 Sep 2027), from $536 on Viator; up to 2.5 h on ice (about 2 h 15 min per Viator); age 10+, 35-115 kg, 137 cm minimum.
- Fox Glacier heli hike: NZ$849 direct, from $507 on Viator; up to 3 h on ice; age 9+, max 116 kg.
- Heli hikes are weather dependent; operator cancellations are refunded or rebooked. No refund for guests who cannot participate due to fitness (Franz Josef listing).
- Guided valley walks (Glacier Valley Eco Tours) go no closer to the glacier than the public viewpoint.

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are Viator affiliate links (pid P00318890). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD per person at the last build and move.

- Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike (Glacier Base, Franz Josef) - from $536 per person, 4 hours, on the ice: Yes, about 2 h 15 min; rated 4.6 from 661 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/franz-josef-glacier-heli-hike/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Heli-Hike-Franz-Josef-Glacier-Walk/d757-2524HDICE
- Fox Glacier Heli Hike (Fox Glacier village) - from $507 per person, 4 hours, on the ice: Yes, up to 3 hours; rated 4.9 from 602 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/fox-glacier-heli-hike/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Heli-Hike-Fox-Glacier/d757-42720P2
- Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk (Franz Josef glacier valley) - from $67 per person, 3 hours, on the ice: No: public viewpoint, about 3 km from the ice; rated 4.9 from 116 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/franz-josef-valley-walk/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Franz-Josef-Glacier-2-Hour-Tour/d757-53086P6
- Fox Glacier Valley Walk (Fox Glacier south side) - from $67 per person, 3 to 4 hours, on the ice: No: distant viewpoints, not the ice; rated 4.8 from 96 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/fox-glacier-valley-walk/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Fox-Glacier-Valley-Eco-Tour/d757-53086P2
- Lake Mapourika Kayak and Rainforest Walk (Lake Mapourika, Okarito) - from $104 per person, 4 hours, on the ice: No: a lake and rainforest trip; rated 4.9 from 128 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/lake-mapourika-kayak-and-walk/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Kayak-and-Walk-Adventure-from-Franz-Josef-Glacier/d757-7653P2
- Lake Cruise and Rainforest Walk (Lake Mapourika) - from $93 per person, 2.5 hours, on the ice: No: a lake and rainforest trip; rated 4.9 from 105 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/lake-cruise-and-rainforest-walk/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Cruise-and-Rainforest-Walk-Franz-Josef-Glacier/d757-7653P3
- Lake Mapourika Kayak Tour (Lake Mapourika) - from $93 per person, 3 hours, on the ice: No: mountain views across the lake; rated 4.9 from 411 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/lake-mapourika-kayak/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Kayak-Adventure-from-Franz-Josef-Glacier/d757-7653P1
- 25-Minute Glacier Flight with Snow Landing (Franz Josef village) - from $236 per person, 25 minutes, on the ice: About 10 min on the snow, no hiking; rated 4.9 from 244 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/snow-landing-flight-25-minutes/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Franz-Josef-Glacier-Helicopter-Flight-with-Snow-Landing/d757-28287P2
- Glacier Explorer Flight and Landing (Franz Josef village) - from $230 per person, 25 minutes, on the ice: About 10 min landing, no hiking; rated 4.8 from 228 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/glacier-explorer-snow-landing/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Glacier-Explorer-1-Glacier-and-Snow-Landing/d757-113645P1
- 20-Minute Glacier Flight with Snow Landing (Franz Josef village) - from $215 per person, 20 minutes, on the ice: Short snow landing, no hiking; rated 4.9 from 72 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/fox-or-franz-josef-snow-landing/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Franz-Josef-and-Fox-Glacier/Fox-or-Franz-Josef-Glacier-including-snow-landing/d757-49003P1
- Queenstown to Franz Josef Heli Hike (Departs Queenstown) - from $1,250 per person, 7 hours, on the ice: Yes, about 2 hours; rated 4.9 from 38 reviews. Page: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/tours/queenstown-to-franz-josef-heli-hike/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Queenstown/Franz-Josef-Glacier-Helihike/d407-171544P8

## Guide pages

- https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/guides/can-you-walk-on-franz-josef-glacier/ - Can you walk on Franz Josef Glacier without a helicopter? Why valley walks onto the ice ended in 2012, how close you get on foot, and the only way onto the ice.
- https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/guides/franz-josef-glacier-valley-walk/ - The free Franz Josef Glacier valley walk in 2026: 1.7 km, 30 minutes, the car park and its fees, Sentinel Rock, Peters Pool, Roberts Point and closures.
- https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/guides/fox-glacier-walks/ - Fox Glacier walks in 2026: the closed access road, the South Side Walkway viewpoints, Lake Matheson at dawn, Lake Gault, Peak Viewpoint and the heli hike.
- https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/guides/franz-josef-vs-fox-glacier-heli-hike/ - Franz Josef or Fox Glacier heli hike? Prices in USD and NZD, time on the ice, ages, weight limits, departures, and how both compare with a snow landing.
- https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/guides/heli-hike-weather-cancellations/ - How often heli hikes cancel for weather at Franz Josef and Fox, who makes the call and when, refunds, the best slots and seasons, and what to do on a rain day.
- https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/guides/what-to-wear-heli-hike/ - What to wear on a Franz Josef or Fox Glacier heli hike: what's provided, layers, no jeans, banned items, temperatures, fitness and limits, and rain gear.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-10-22: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/blog/glacier-walks-open-summer-2026-27/ - Which Franz Josef and Fox Glacier walks are open for summer 2026-27: distances, times and status of every track, plus what closed for good.
- 2026-10-22: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/blog/heli-hike-prices-2026-27/ - What a Franz Josef or Fox Glacier heli hike costs in 2026-27, direct in NZD and on Viator in USD, plus snow-landing flights, valley walks and the extras.
- 2026-10-22: https://franzjosefglacierhike.com/blog/franz-josef-glacier-parking-fees-2026/ - Franz Josef Glacier car park fees in 2026: NZ$2.50 per half hour or NZ$20 a day, 10 minutes free, how to pay, the NZ$75 breach notice and how to avoid it.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- 'Franz Josef Glacier walk' guides from before 2012 describe walking onto the ice from the valley. That is no longer possible.
- The Fox Glacier terminal face walk and access road no longer exist (closed 2019).
- A guided valley or nature walk does not go onto or up to the ice; it ends at the public viewpoint.
- A snow-landing flight is not a heli hike: about 10 minutes on snow, no guided walk. One 25-minute flight may land on rock in summer.
- The free valley walks need no ticket; only parking is charged.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant tour page. Prices, track status and seasons change; verify close to your travel date.