HeliServices.NZ · Alpine Adventure Centre, Franz Josef
HeliServices.NZ flies your group alone from Franz Josef to the top of the icefall, about 6,000 ft up, and lands on the snow for photos. It's the shortest and cheapest way onto the snow here, and nobody else shares your helicopter.
HeliServices.NZ has flown scenic flights over Fox and Franz Josef glaciers since 1987, with four-seat Hughes 500D and six-seat AS350 helicopters. This one leaves from the Franz Josef heliport, climbs over the icefall to about 6,000 ft and lands on the snow at the top. The listing says it's a private flight: only your group is on board.
Know what you're buying: a 20-minute flight with a short stop on the snow, and no hiking. Guests call it quick, and several wish it were longer, though one had "a good amount of time to wander about". A fuel surcharge is added to the price, and a souvenir photo printed on the spot costs extra (one guest paid $20).
Weather rules here as at every helipad. Cloud can delay or cancel flights, and one guest's flight was cancelled a few times before the sun broke through, so book early in your stay. The listing excludes the 40-minute film Westland Wonderland, shown at the Franz Josef cinema. If you want to walk on the ice instead, see the Franz Josef heli hike.
29 Main Road, Franz Josef. A pre-flight safety briefing comes first.
Fly up the glacier over the icefall toward the snowfields.
Step out at the top for photos with the Southern Alps around you.
Return to the heliport. The listing suggests allowing about an hour in all.
★★★★★Landing on the glacier was surreal and we were allowed a good amount of time to wander about. We booked the 9am flight and were lucky to have a perfectly still, cloudless day.
★★★★★Check-in was easy and fuss-free. Weather was superb! It rained the night before and cleared up just in time for our flight. Recommend to go in the mornings (for Dec period).
★★★★★Fantastic on a clear day! Well organized. Loved it! Helicopter could take 6 passengers, we had just 4 so heaps of room.
★★★★★It was great experience, we weren’t too sure about it but it was amazing, the stuff was super nice and the views and the helicopter experience was fantastic! For us the 20 min one was just right.
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Yes. The listing says only your group takes part, and guests have flown four people in a six-seat helicopter.
A few minutes for photos and a short wander, guests report. The whole flight takes 20 minutes.
A fuel surcharge on top of the price, and souvenir photos if you want them (a guest paid $20 for a print).
This one, from $215, against $230 for the Glacier Explorer and $236 for the 25-minute Glacier Helicopters flight. The other two give about 10 minutes on the ground.
Ready to book
A private 20-minute flight for your group with a snow landing above the glaciers.
25-Minute Glacier Flight with Snow Landing25 minutes over the Franz Josef icefall with about 10 minutes on the snow. No hiking, fine for kids from 4.★ 4.9 · 25 minutes · from $236
Glacier Explorer Flight and Landing25 minutes over Franz Josef Glacier with a 10-minute alpine landing. In summer the site can be rock, not snow.★ 4.8 · 25 minutes · from $230
Franz Josef Glacier Heli HikeThe only guided way onto Franz Josef Glacier: a short flight up, then about two hours on crampons among seracs and ice caves.★ 4.6 · 4 hours · from $536