Franz Josef & Fox Glacier: 60-Min Helicopter with 2 Snow Landings
Two Snow Landings in the Southern Alps, Mount Cook in View
You fly over four glaciers in 60 minutes with two included snow landings: one for photos, one on the Shackleton Glacier with Mount Cook views. The helicopter departs from Franz Josef, and the full experience including check-in and transport takes about two hours. All fees and taxes are included, and you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle to and from the pad.
Step-by-step itinerary
Mt Cook Supreme Glacier Flight
- Check in and prepare for flight
- Fly over Franz Josef Glacier
- Fly over Fox Glacier
- Fly over Tasman Glacier
- Snow landing for photos
- Landing on Shackleton Glacier
- Return to office
What’s included
Your experience includes the 60-minute helicopter flight over Franz Josef, Fox, and Tasman Glaciers with views of Mount Cook, two 10-minute snow landings (one for photos, one on the Shackleton Glacier), air-conditioned vehicle transport to and from the helicopter pad, and all fees and taxes. Allow an extra 45 minutes beyond the flight time for check-in, loading, and unloading.
Times
- Every day 08:00 09:15 11:15 13:15 16:00 18:00
Before you book
Operated by Glacier Country Helicopters
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The experience
The helicopter lifts off from Franz Josef and climbs toward the Southern Alps. You're looking down at Franz Josef Glacier first (the white sprawl of it, the crevasses catching light), and then the pilot banks toward Fox Glacier, then Tasman. The whole thing takes about an hour from the moment you step into the aircraft, but what matters is that you're not just flying over these glaciers. You land twice. The first landing is on snow, high enough that you can get out, stand on it, take photos without the rotor wash destroying everything. Ten minutes on the glacier itself, not watching it from above.
Gus and Poppy, who started this operation in 2014, are usually the ones flying. That matters because they know the weather patterns on the West Coast and they know which landings work on any given day. The second landing happens on the Shackleton Glacier, deeper into the range, where Mount Cook sits in the distance. It's another ten minutes on snow, and by then you've stopped thinking about the time and started thinking about the scale of what you're standing in. The flight covers Franz Josef, Fox, and Tasman Glaciers in sequence, so you see how they connect, how the landscape changes as you move south.
The whole experience (flight plus check-in, transport to the helicopter pad, loading, unloading, and getting back to the office) takes about two hours. You'll need to allow 45 minutes beyond the 60-minute flight itself. If you're over 120kg, you'll need to book a Comfort Seat at check-in. Otherwise, standard seats are 40cm wide, and you can reserve an empty seat next to you if you want the space. There are two high ladder-style steps into the helicopter, so let the operator know if you have mobility concerns before you book.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to land on a glacier and stand on snow without arranging the logistics yourself. The operator handles transport, timing, and weather decisions, which is what makes two landings possible in a single morning or afternoon.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 16 years); Infant (under 4).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the actual flight time?
60 minutes total, which includes two 10-minute snow landings. Add 45 minutes for check-in, transport, loading, and unloading.
Can I choose where I sit in the helicopter?
You can request a front seat or executive upgrade, but you must contact the operator at least 24 hours in advance. Comfort seats (40cm wide with an empty seat reserved next to you) are available if you prefer extra space.
What if I'm over 120kg?
Passengers weighing 120kg or more at check-in are required to purchase a Comfort Seat, which costs half the regular flight price.
What glaciers do we see?
Franz Josef, Fox, and Tasman Glaciers, plus Mount Cook in the Southern Alps. You land on snow twice during the flight.
Is there a weight or mobility limit?
The helicopter has two high ladder-style steps to enter. If you have limited mobility, injury, arthritis, or recent surgery, let the operator know before booking so they can assign the right aircraft.
Can infants fly?
Yes, infants must sit on an adult's lap during the flight.
What's included in the price?
All fees and taxes, plus transport in an air-conditioned vehicle to and from the helicopter pad.
Who operates this tour?
A family-owned company based in Franz Josef, run by Gus and Poppy since 2014. One of them typically pilots most flights.
Franz Josef & Fox Glacier: 60-Min Helicopter with 2 Snow Landings
1h · EN
from NZ$ 895 per person
≈ US$ 514 in your currency
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