Glacier Explorer: Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Tour

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Franz Josef Glacier with a scenic helicopter flight and snow landing by Glacier Country Helicopters. Book now for an unforgettable adventure!

Duration: 25 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Franz Josef Glacier - The Glacier Explorer flight includes stunning views of the Franz Josef Glacier.
What's Included
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • All fees and/or taxes included
What's Not Included
  • Comfort Seat
Additional Information

Glacier Country Helicopters is a local, family owned and operated company based in Franz Josef, on the West Coast of New Zealand. Husband and wife team Gus and Poppy started the company in January 2014 and you’ll generally find one of them out flying most days.
On our Glacier Explorer flight you’ll fly over the Franz Josef Glacier and then into the…

Location
10 Main Road
Main Road
Please check in at our office 30 minutes prior to your flight time. We recommend bringing sunglasses, a jacket, camera, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Our only base operates from Franz Josef. Cancellations within 24hours due to customer booking the wrong location will not be refunded.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(167 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Fran_k
Jan 17, 2025
Excellent. Do not miss it!! - this company is very professional, friendly and we felt totally safe. The weather was closing in on Franz Joseph so we wouldn’t be able to land. We took the option of the 35 minute flight and we were all so very happy that we did. Our pilot was excellent and she was very knowledgeable. It was the best take off and landing that I’ve ever done in a helicopter.
Review provided by Viator
Adventurer436559
Jan 4, 2025
Excellent experience - Excellent. We were booked for late in the day but the team at Glacier Country emailed us the evening prior asking to move our booking earlier as there may have been bad weather around the time of our booking. The experience was excellent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mohammedfaisal_r
Dec 28, 2024
Beauty beyond words - Breathtaking views of the glacier and the valley. Very professionally run setup; they took care of every minute details for safety and comfort. Rachel, our skipper, was kind and funny. We had a great time in the flight and upon landing on the glacier
Review provided by Viator
Diana_c
Dec 26, 2024
A must do while in Franz Josef! - One of our highlights to our trip to NZ! The weather did not cooperate on the day of our booking but the staff was very good at communicating and rebooking us the following day. The views of the glacier from the helicopter was stunning and the landing was an experience like no other. Highly recommend Glacier Country Helicopters
Review provided by Viator
Sallygibbins
Dec 18, 2024
Great views, a must do trip if visiting the area. - Excellent trip with great views. Landing on top of glacier was amazing. They had to extend the trip due to incoming cloud cover too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explore44767400868
Dec 18, 2024
Spectacular helicopter flight to Franz Josef Glacier. - It was a beautiful experience. The flight began with sightseeing across the city's landscape past the mountains to the lookout point. It was a very successful tour. Thanks to Edine for the flight.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Crffe
Dec 18, 2024
Phenomenal experience - Friendly, relaxed and efficient staff and pilot looked after us well in this once in a lifetime experience. Originally we'd booked for the previous afternoon and the team contacted us the day before to ask if we wanted to go earlier as the clouds often rolled in after 11am. So we arrived around 2.30pm but alas the clouds precluded the flight that day, but the team offered an upgrade to a different glacier landing, a refund or delay to following day. We chose the latter as we were staying nearby and are so glad we did. Day dawned with very limited cloud and the trip was on. A weigh in and 5 minute bus to the helipad, then soon after we were skybound and en route to the Southern Alps. Incredible and smooth journey, with a landing and plenty of time for photos on Middleton Glacier with uninterrupted views of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Stunning. A real privilege given the rapid decline in glacier size and accessibility. Our thanks to the team, great experience and not to be missed
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Russellfn6768yj
Nov 7, 2024
Outstanding Experience - This was an outstanding experience and I could not recommend it more highly. The company were great to deal with and made it very special. It is not cheap but we viewed it as a once in a lifetime experience and do not regret for a minute spending the money. We were blessed with a fine blue sky day. Don't overthink it just do it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vaughan_d
Nov 4, 2024
Fox Glacier Helicopter Flight - Great helicopter flight zig-zagging up the glaciers. Unfortunately, the weather conditions did not allow the landing, which would have been the icing on the cake. Nevertheless, a great experience.
Review provided by Viator
Krunali_s
Jan 2, 2025
Fun ride with beautiful... - Fun ride with beautiful views, but extremely short. We barely got 5-7 minutes on the glacier and 10-12 minutes of flight time. Not worth the price.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 6 guests
1 Adult
January 2025
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today