True South Flights · Queenstown (Frankton)
True South Flights flies you from Queenstown over Wanaka and the Southern Alps to Franz Josef in a small plane, and a helicopter puts you on the glacier for about two hours with a guide. You're back at your Queenstown hotel the same day, without driving the West Coast.
True South Flights runs this from its office in Remarkables Park, Frankton, near Queenstown Airport, and collects you from Queenstown hotels. A small plane, with a window seat guaranteed for everyone, flies about an hour over Wanaka and the Alps to the West Coast. In Franz Josef you're kitted out and flown onto the ice in two helicopter transfers, then guided for about two hours. Franz Josef Glacier Guides is the only company allowed to guide on that glacier.
Summer departures leave at 9:30am and return around 4:30pm; in winter (1 May to 30 September) you leave at 8:30am and are back by 4pm, the operator says. Lunch isn't included, so bring food. Confirmation can take up to 48 hours, because the plane, the helicopters and the guides all have to line up.
Weather can move the whole day. The operator flies to Franz Josef or to the Tasman Glacier near Aoraki/Mount Cook, depending on which side of the Alps is clear, and guests report swaps in both directions. If Franz Josef specifically matters to you, ask before you book. At $1,250 per person (from NZ$1,799 direct) it costs more than twice the heli hike from Franz Josef, which is the better buy if you're driving the coast anyway.
Hotel pickup in Queenstown, or check in at True South Flights on Hawthorne Drive, Frankton (free parking by the New World supermarket).
Over Wanaka and the Southern Alps to Franz Josef.
Boots, crampons and waterproofs on, then the helicopter onto the glacier.
A guided walk through the icefall, then the helicopter back down.
The return flight and drop-off at your hotel, around 4:30pm in summer.
★★★★★This is a once in a lifetime truly amazing experience. The team was amazing and they did all they could to make sure that we were safe. Due to bad weather, our trip was moved to the Tasman glacier. [...] What was truly outstanding was the guide from Alpine trekkers who was so knowledgeable and took us for a two hour track on the ice at the glacier.
★★★★★On the day, through no fault of the tour guide, the weather took a turn which meant the planned Tasman Glacier Heli-hike couldn’t go ahead. Rather than cancelling, the team sprang into action [...] seamlessly rescheduling for a Franz Josef Heli-hike instead.
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About two hours, the same core heli hike as from Franz Josef. The whole day takes about 7 hours with the flights.
The operator can switch to the Tasman Glacier on the drier east side of the Alps, and guests report that happening. If neither glacier works, weather cancellations get a refund or a new date.
Adults are 14 and over, children 10 to 13. The listing sets a limit of 254 lbs (115 kg) per passenger and asks you to declare medical conditions.
If you're staying in Queenstown and short on days, yes: the flight over the Alps is half the show. If you're driving SH6 anyway, the Franz Josef heli hike costs $536 for similar time on the ice.
Ready to book
Fly from Queenstown to Franz Josef, hike the glacier for about two hours, and be back the same day.
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
Fox Glacier Heli HikeUp to three hours on Fox Glacier after a four-minute flight from the village. Kids from 9, groups of 11 at most.★ 4.9 · 4 hours · from $507
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