Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

Glacier Helicopters

See the Franz Josef Glacier from the air on a scenic 20-minute helicopter flight above ice falls, snowfields, and crevasses. Experience the thrill of a snow landing to see the icy landscape up close and take in incredible views across the glacier.

Franz Josef Glacier / Kā Roimata O Hine Hukatere

❮ ❯

See more photos

Journey into the largely inaccessible heart of the majestic Southern Alps on a 20-minute helicopter flight to Franz Josef Glacier. Experience a snow landing and explore the ice falls, to see some of the most stunning ice architecture of any glacier in the world. Following a spectacular collapse of the terminal face in 2012, the glacier is now only accessible by helicopter.

Make your way to a central location in Franz Josef township, where you will check in for the flight. Lift off, and fly above the glacier that stretches through Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Admire the thick forest that creeps to the edge of the ice and appreciate the spectacular views of the glacier from above.

Midway through the flight you will land on part of the glacier snowfield in a location that, without specialized equipment and mountaineering guides, is only accessible by helicopter. Soak in the views, capture some incredible photos then return to the helicopter for the return flight to Franz Josef township.