From Franz Josef Village, you’ll fly up to the Franz Josef Glacier in the Westland National Park. You’ll land on a section of this 10.5km long glacier, where a daily safety assessment of the conditions on this fast-moving ice flow has been conducted. Equipped with glacier boots and crampons, you’ll walk for two hours with your guide amongst the ice formations and pinnacles. See first-hand the extraordinary colours of the ice-flow. Touch the ice, breathe in the fresh air.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides will be hosting your Heli Hike experience. The Helicopter Line will manage your booking, send confirmations and experience information directly. The Helicopter Line will not provide guiding or helicopter services.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides have been taking visitors over this epic icefall terrain since 1990 and can trace their heritage back 100 years.
Important Information
- This tour is classed as an adventure activity and carries a degree of risk; as such you need to be aware that we cannot absolutely guarantee your safety.
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides are the provider of the adventure activity and have been assessed to meet or exceed the Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) regulations 2016.
- Franz Josef Glacier is an unstable geological feature that presents certain hazards, including, but not limited to: avalanche, rock fall, ice fall, heavy rainfall, cold exposure, height, flooding, uneven terrain, slips trips and falls, sun exposure.
- We cannot anticipate or eliminate all risks so take a balanced and conservative approach to safety management.
- Agreeing to participate is your personal decision accepting there are environmental and external elements outside our control that may cause harm.
- Get ready!
- Safety Info
- Additional Info
- Cancellation policy
Duration
- Allow approximately 4-hours duration for the whole experience.
Departure Locations
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Departs and returns from Glacier Base, 63 Cron Street, Franz Josef / Waiau 7886.
Departure Times and check in
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We have hiking tours departing at various times throughout the year.
- Please call 0800 807 767, 24-hours prior to departure to reconfirm your booking.
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Please check in 30 minutes before your flights departure at The Helicopter Line Base, situated on the Main Road (State Highway 6), Franz Josef Glacier, 7856.
What to Bring
- Warm clothing: upper body clothing, 3-4 layers and a waterproof jacket (provided if you don’t have one. Leggings or light trousers, although shorts are acceptable. Please no jeans)
- Comfortable and sturdy shoes.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Phone and camera (please make sure large cameras are on a strap).
What to Leave Behind
- Bags
- Selfie sticks and I-pads are not permitted on our aircraft.
- Loose clothing and scarves.
- Dangerous goods.
- Confirmation will be received within 48-hours of booking.
- Flights, landings and routes may vary due to weather and the pilot’s discretion. Flight times are approximate and include your landing.
- Minimum passenger numbers apply for flights. Bookings will be coordinated to achieve this where possible.
- Prices include concession fees contributing toward conservation and sustainability management.
- Children wishing to join our Heli Hikes need to be at least 10 years old, weigh at least 35kg and be at least 137cm tall. This is due to safety ratings with our harnesses. (Weight limit is 115kg).
- If you are travelling with a child during late May - early September, they unfortunately are not able to participate in our first morning departures as the ice conditions carry a higher level of risk during the season. To give them the best chance of participation, we recommend all parties travelling with children book our trips from 11AM onwards. Most of our afternoon bookings are currently running under demand, so please contact one of our friendly team if this option is not available on your preferred booking day on 0800 807 767.
- Clients who are over 115kg and/or pregnant will not be able to participate.
- Drones, iPads or selfie sticks are not allowed on board for safety.
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides will be hosting your Heli Hike experience. The Helicopter Line will manage your booking, send confirmations and experience information directly. The Helicopter Line will not provide guiding or helicopter services.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides will be hosting your Heli Hike experience. The Helicopter Line will manage your booking, send confirmations and experience information directly. The Helicopter Line will not provide guiding or helicopter services for this product.
Please find more risk and safety information HERE
- Customers will receive a full refund or credit with minimum 24 hours’ notice of cancellation.
- Customers will receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.
- Customers cancelling within 24 hours of departure and/or are No-shows, will be charged the full price.
