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Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight departing Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier, New Zealand

30 minutes
Flight time: 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

This 30-minute helicopter flight with an expert alpine pilot takes you over the twin glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, with a snow landing at the head of either one. At the landing site above the icefalls, step out to marvel at the phenomenal glacial beauty of the crevasse-filled landscape below. Your helicopter tour soars above the magnificent carved valleys of the Southern Alps, and includes round-trip hotel transport to the tour base.

Enjoy a 30-minute helicopter tour over glaciers and land
Helicopter experience includes a snow landing
Entertaining and informative commentary from your pilot guide
Photo oppotunities

What's Included

Scenic helicopter flight with snow landing (5-10 minutes)
Live commentary on board
Professional guide
GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Items of a personal nature

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

The Helicopter Line Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier Main South Road SH6 Fox Glacier, Fox Glacier 7859, New Zealand

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Soar over two of New Zealand's most renowned glaciers, each cloaked in an ice-blue sheen, on this 30-minute helicopter flight. Arrive at the helicopter base for your aerial tour that includes a magnificent snow landing atop either Fox Glacier or Franz Josef Glacier.

Step aboard your twin-engine copter and look out from the six-passenger open cabin to an incomparable aerial vista over the Southern Alps. Hover above fascinating ice forms as your pilot provides interesting narration on the ever-changing glacial landscape.

After a remote landing, step out onto a snowfield above the icefalls. You’ll be captivated by your natural surroundings, including views of Mt Cook/Aoraki, which towers at an elevation of 12,217 feet (3,724 meters).

Franz Josef Glacier (Pass By)

Fox Glacier

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Southern Alps (Pass By)

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu) (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Children must be accompanied by an adult, Children weighing less than 15kgs are required to sit on a parents lap.
Wheelchair accessible
It is recommended that warm clothing and suitable footwear be worn on this tour due to cold temperatures.
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Tenna_S

Exciting and worth it 😎 beautiful view from above. Pilot Simon was very helpful with information about the area.

Reviews

4.5

21 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 21 reviews

Exciting and worth it

Tenna_S, Apr 2024

Exciting and worth it 😎 beautiful view from above. Pilot Simon was very helpful with information about the area.

Paid for 3I min Twin Glacier and received 20 min one glacier ride.no promised partial refund.

Valerie_a, Mar 2023

We signed up and paid for the twin Glacier trip from Fox Glacier to bith Fix and Franz Joseph Glacier. After several delays we went to Fox Glacier which was beautiful! However the pilot s seemed pushed to get more people to the top and did not take us over to Franz Joseph Glacier claiming there was too much wind. There was no wind however.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hello Valerie, thank you for your feedback. We have raised this with our lead pilot, who confirmed the weather conditions to complete the 30min Twin Glacier flight did not adhere to our company safety regulations on this day. It was only safe enough to do the 20-minute flight. Your safety is our priority. When we weather brief, we do give the option of rebooking for another day or refunding. We hope the rest of your trip went well and hopefully you will be over in these parts again to experience what Franz Josef has to offer.

Ice to see you 😎

Keith_D, Feb 2023

A well organised helicopter trip to view 2 glaciers and land on one. And it was a flexible package too, as our previously arranged trip was cancelled due to bad weather.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Kia Ora Keith, Ice to see you too! Thanks so much for joining our team in Fox Glacier. We appreciate your review and recommendation. It's awesome to be able to view the West Coast glaciers from a helicopter. We hope to see you for another flight in the future. Best wishes, The Helicopter Line

Professionally run...

Brendan_O, Nov 2022

Professionally run Excellent view of both glaciers and got 5-10 min on top of the glacier. Would recommend

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Kia Ora, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We're so happy to hear how much you enjoyed your flight with our team. We appreciate your recommendation. Thank you for flying with us. Best wishes, The Helicopter Line

A must do.

PaulHudson, Oct 2022

We had an awesome time. So luck with the weather. The flight was very smooth. Some awesome views when we landed on top of the glacier. Would have loved to have sat next to the pilot for uninterrupted views for photos .

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Kia Ora Paul, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. The views from above are spectacular and nothing beats a smooth flight in good weather. We hope to see you again in the front seat on another flight in the future. Thanks so much for joining us in Fox Glacier. Kind regards, The Helicopter Line

We were booked for the 12 noon Twin...

Lorraine W, Apr 2017

We were booked for the 12 noon Twin Glacier tour. The weather was perfect but only my husband and I and they needed 3 to fly. Tanya and Tony were great, they contacted sister company to try and amalgamate passengers so we could fly. They had us on standby and moved heaven and earth to get us away. The 30 minute power trip was unbelievable and pilot Dan was very knowledgeable giving us commentary of the area and manoeuvred the chopper skilfully. So we have flown over Grand Canyon and this is just as spectacular.

A wonderful trip. Our first booking...

Roger S, Mar 2017

A wonderful trip. Our first booking was cancelled because of the weather, but they rebooked us the next day without fuss. Took the first flight of the day and had glorious weather. Pilot was great, good commentary, and, of course, fantastic scenery. The landing on the glacier gave an opportunity for a quick walk around and an experience of the glacial ice. The 6 seater helicopters are cramped, and the view from the middle two seats in the back is restricted. Unfortunately you have no say as to where you are seated you are seated according to weight and it appeared that the lightest two people get the front seats. Highly recommended.

Heli trip of a lifetime .Pilot was...

Christopher B, Mar 2016

Heli trip of a lifetime .Pilot was great and his comments only added to the experiance .

The staff was very helpful and...

gary g, Mar 2016

The staff was very helpful and efficient. Pilot did an excellent job. Loved being on the glacier, getting photos.

Amazing! We took our family of 5 on...

Kara M, Feb 2016

Amazing! We took our family of 5 on this flight and it will be a favorite memory for us. The helicopter office is right on the main street and within walking distance of one of the larger camper van parks. We took heavy coats, gloves and scarves, but those were not needed. We only needed gloves so we could throw snowballs at eachother.

Infact they did not do everything...

ANIL_P, Jan 2014

Infact they did not do everything they promised. They did not give us a hotel pickup, and 10mts time to spent on the glaciers was cut to 5 mnts. The pilot too wasn't very friendly or informative. It was a bit disappointing.

If they had said it was this good we...

Robert B, Jan 2013

If they had said it was this good we would not have believed them. The weather forecast was not good but it turned out a lovely morning (at least when we flew). Enough safety management to give confidence but not boring. We had walked to Fox glacier the day before but it did not prepare us for this amazing flight and landing on the Glacier. Can't think of words good enough to describe the experience of helicopter flight, close views of the mountains and glaciers and a great pilot making it exciting but not frightening. Go and experience it if you think this is an exaggeration.

Whole family loved it. Weather...

Melissa W, Apr 2012

Whole family loved it. Weather perfect on the day. Views amazing. Pilot and team made the whole process easy. Walking on the glacier one of the highlights of our trip.

The helicopter flight was absolutely...

JB, Apr 2007

The helicopter flight was absolutely fabulous, glaciers were awesome, the guides friendly lovely people. Only draw back was the flight was about an hour late and we were on a tight schedule. You have a gorgeous country, saving dollars to come back again.