Fox Glacier Tours
Fox Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing
5

Fox Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

By Glacier Helicopters
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
Take to the skies and fly over Fox Glacier on a dramatic helicopter flight—one of the South Island of New Zealand’s must-do experiences. Combine stunning aerial views with an up-close experience of the frozen landscape thanks to an exciting snow landing. Walk on alpine terrain that’s accessible only to skilled mountaineers and pilots, enjoying an unforgettable, dramatic vantage point set high above the glacier.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 6 per group
Duration: 20m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
  • See Fox Glacier’s crevasses, caves, icefalls, and frozen rivers from above
  • Get amazing views of the West Coast glacier region en route to Fox Glacier
  • Experience an exciting snow landing and walk on the maritime glacier
  • Bring home gorgeous on-the-snow photos

  • Professional guide
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Make your way to the helicopter base, meet your pilot, get a safety briefing, and then buckle up and pull out your camera. Lift off the ground and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of New Zealand’s West Coast glacier region before flying toward Fox Glacier. See a blue-white swath of snow and ice between rocky ridges, and a fascinating jumble of crevasses, ice ridges, and ice caves. As you fly low over Fox Glacier, get aerial views of its glacial cliffs and icefalls, and then touch down on a patch of snow that overlooks the ice field. Walk a pristine snowy slope that’s far from roads and trails, taking in spectacular views back across the frozen landscape and snapping some memorable photos. Hop back into the helicopter for the return flight to Fox Glacier Township.

Start:
  • Main Road, Fox Glacier 7886, New Zealand
    Departure Point: Main Street though town Address: Located in the townships of Fox Glacier on the Main Street though town - Main South Road, SH6 Dates: Daily
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    • Infant seats available
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 28287P5

    • Most travellers can participate
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • What to Bring, Warm Clothing,Sturdy Covered Shoes, Sunglasses,Sunscreen and a Camera
    • For safety reasons, we do not allow selfie sticks, drones, flammable liquids, lighters, iPads/ tablets and bags of any description on any of our flights.
    • We fly all year round, weather permitting. Please note: On Christmas, we only operate for half the day (9 am - 12 pm).
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 28287P5

    From
    AU$317.58
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Glacier Helicopters
      686
      Franz Josef, New Zealand
      Joined in August 2008
    • Rainman20142014
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Just do it!
      A once in a lifetime mazing experience! Great pilot! Took heaps of photos and video. I'm usually a bit nervous with flying/heights but the scenery just blew me away.
      Written 9 September 2024
    • kathleenwN6284YG
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience
      The views were off the charts! Landing and walking out was super exciting! Absolutely a must do. ! The pilot was great, friendly and very knowledgeable
      Written 8 September 2024
    • D9114EImichellej
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Adventures
      All staff were amazing, happy, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The views were outstanding. Would highly recommend.
      Written 6 September 2024
    • annepO828UA
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommended
      Excellent service by the lovely and helpful staff. Highly recommended. Pilot very informative and knowledgeable and easy to understand
      Written 4 September 2024
    • natchais
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Most amazing thing in your life!
      One of the top 3 things we have ever done in our lifes! We did a walk-in and had the most Wonderfull weather, clear sky with lots of sun. From the start we were helped by a lovely lady who was really amazing (even gave her own gloves when we had forgotten ours). The flight itself, with Tim Annett, was amazing! He did the extra mile with an extra landing below the Franz Josef Glacier, which gave us an excellent photo upwards with the glacier behind us. You really need to do this ones in your life!
      Written 3 September 2024
    • andyjJ1706LO
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic
      It was a great experience and the pilot (Jay) was brilliant. Absolutely stunning views and would recommend for people to go through this company. We all would love to do it again!
      Written 6 August 2024
    • C2830ZOjulianat
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Donna and Clark made our day for an unforgettable experience!
      So glad we chose to take off at Fox Glazier because we were greeted by Donna, the loveliest host who found us waiting at the wrong spot and gave us a safety briefing with a smile! We felt so welcome. Then to top the experience, we had a great pilot Clark who was obviously a pro (not to mention very cute and even post for us for a photo in the end!) and took us on the smoothest ride to celebrate our parents 50th wedding anniversary! It was truly an amazing experience. Thank you Donna and Clark!!
      Written 12 June 2024
    • blondiesmp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A magnificent flight to be remembered
      We would like to compliment Tim the pilot on his great flight and commentary lovely guy. Leo in the office was so friendly and helpful and Hannah for a magnificent experience that we will treasure always. Wow wow wow . Absolutely spectacular trip . Weather was absolutely perfect blue skies no wind and a good dumping of snow.Thanks so much guys Diane and Sharon
      Written 26 April 2024
    • S1999YXjaredm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing
      What a fantastic team we dealt with for our booking. Brad and his team were so helpful and full of information regarding weather and what to expect. We had the pleasure of Cody being our pilot for the day. He’s is a very professional pilot and felt very comfortable on the flight. He was very informative during the flight and knew a lot about the history of the area. We landed up in the snow and we’re lucky enough that he took some great pictures of us. Can’t wait to book another flight with you all in the future thank you so much for having us.
      Written 27 March 2024
    • seonagmacrae
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A must do experience
      An absolutely must do. You need to be flexible as the weather changes constantly. We were booked at 1 pm but had to rebook for 2:30. The company does its best to get you up on the helicopter. The experience is amazing, so cool to be up in the alpine and the landing was magic. You just need to do this.
      Written 7 February 2024
    • wattsup70
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Must do
      This is amazing. The helicopter ride and views are spectacular and we also could get out and walk around on one of the glaciers.
      Written 4 February 2024
    • steveholmes69
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      What an amazing experience!
      From start to finish, an absolutely amazing experience. The staff in the office so bubbly and personable, the pilot ‘Pete’ so knowledgeable and most importantly, a great pilot, and the flight, glacier landing and return was magnificent. An absolute must if visiting this stunning part of the world.
      Written 29 January 2024
    • Gregory B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic family experience
      A great experience with Glacier Helicopters from the office, the loading, the pilot and on to the flight. Beautiful flight up and onto the glacier. Thoroughly recommended.
      Written 17 January 2024
    • SoJoWo
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great flight but no as described
      Great views and definitely worth doing but total flying time 11 minutes from take off to landing (0927 to 0938). They confirmed the flight at 0800 but only after check in, weighing you and giving you wrist tags did they say it's not a 40 minutes flight but a 20 minute one with no landing. It then turned out to be 8 minutes something or other and 12 minutes actusl flight. They tell you this at the helicopter. I appreciate weather changes but even at a 'reduced rate' of NZ 290 each I feel short changed. Especially as it wasn't even 12 minutes. If I was on my own I'd have refused to pay as the service was not as described but with a family sometimes its best just to move on. They seemingly cannot fly through cloud which of course is fair enough so on a poor day I'd cancel and try again later. To be fair the woman at check in said this to some later customers. I suspect the staff are encouraged to get the punters to fly whatever. Pilot was great. I would ask them exactly the route to be taken and actual flying time. As long as you know this it should be fine.
      Written 11 January 2024
    • Steve C
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent service from start to finish
      The staff were very approachable, and made us feel very comfortable and confident. The pre flight briefing was excellent, but not stuffy. We had a delay due to low cloud, and the flight had to be cut short due to the weather conditions, but the staff were quite happy to refund the difference. The pilot was great. We had a wonderful experience flying over, then landing on the glacier. An experience not to be missed.
      Written 10 January 2024
    See all 686 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles65 reviews
    Excellent
    59
    Very good
    5
    Average
    1
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    Spencer C
    Auckland, New Zealand17 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    July 2020
    It was all just so brilliant! Greg, our pilot was phenomenal and we never thought it would be possible and so beautiful. We felt safe the entire time and with the beautiful weather it was truly magical. What I liked was that our safety was their highest priority and they were open and up front with us. Thank you so much for an experience that we will never forget!
    Written 10 August 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello Spencer C. Your photos of the Fox Glacier and at the Fox Neve landing site are wonderful keepsakes! All that fresh snow would have made your experience extra special. We pride ourselves on prioritising safety, we’re glad that was reflected in your time with us and that you felt safe at all times. When the weather is good here on the West Coast, the views of the Southern Alps and glaciers are hard to match! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a lovely review, we hope you enjoyed the rest of your travels around our beautiful country.
    Written 7 September 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Caitlin S
    Oxford, UK6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2020 • Couples
    After looking at scenic flights in Mt Cook we decided to take one over the glaciers when we got to the west coast. We went in to see the team in Glacier Helicopters in Fox Glacier and they gave us all the info we needed and prices and advice. They had deals on all flights due to covid, and it seemed like an opportunity not to miss. We booked on for the best weather day for the twin glacier flight. On the day unfortunately the wind was too high to go ahead at our planned time, so they re booked us in for the afternoon. The weather was all good, but we could only do the single glacier flight. We went ahead anyway and I'm SO glad we did! The flight was absolutely fantastic!! Amazing views of the glacier with a knowledgeable pilot, Tim, and a beautiful snow landing!! Plenty of time to take it all in (and take pictures!!) Before getting back in the Heli for a lovely flight down (circling the glacier and pointing out Victoria Falls). Overall fantastic experience, can't fault it all, friendly team and some great deals on at the moment!! Definitely give it a go If you are in the west coast.
    Written 25 November 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Caitlin S. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a positive review! We’re sorry to hear the weather wasn’t good enough to do the Twin Glacier flight, but we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Fox Glacier flight. The mighty Victoria falls is a highlight of the Fox Glacier tour, seeing the water cascade down below the ice is an awe inspiring experience. With the deals going on at the moment, there has never been a better time to explore your own backyard. Thanks again for leaving a review, and we hope you enjoyed the rest of your time on the Coast.
    Written 13 December 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Manish J
    Bengaluru, India102 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2024 • Couples
    You did really good. Only one thing was not clear because of which I'm not rating 5 out of 5. The French young couple had said they booked only for 20 minutes, we had booked for 30 mins and the senior couple had booked for 40 mins. But all 3 couples were flown together. It was a total of close to 35 mins from take off to return landing. Not sure why the 20 mins couple got a chance to enjoy 35 mins at a price paid only for 20 mins. We could have also got that price advantage had we known that we can experience more than 30 mins by paying for just 20 mins. I'm telling all my friends now to book only for 20 mins ride as that is advantageous.
    Written 12 September 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Kia Ora, We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and are so glad you enjoyed your flight with us. We sometimes combine bookings due to our operations. We apologise that this was part of your experience and appreciate your understanding. Thank you for joining us to explore the West Coast glaciers. Ngā mihi, Glacier Helicopters
    Written 15 September 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jen k
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Family
    This has been one of the most amazing experiences. From Kaitlyn (ground support) to Clark (Pilot), they were enthusiastic, genuinely helpful individuals who ensured our flight was safe, informative, and fun.
    Clark certainly made us feel special and landed us on fresh, untouched snow.
    Thanks for the unforgettable flight.
    Written 15 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Kia Ora Jen, Thank you for leaving us a wonderful review and for sharing your experience. It is great to hear our pilot and ground crew made your experience even better. Thank you for sharing the pictures, they are great. We thank you for joining Glacier Helicopters in Franz Josef.
    Written 25 September 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Wmf13
    Edinburgh, UK29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a fantastic experience. All excellent from booking in, safety briefing, boarding and alighting the helicopter, clearly safety is a major item for the company. Charlotte, our pilot, provided an excellent commentary and talked about flying in these areas. A memorable experience for us to remember of our time in NZ.
    Written 9 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi there, What a great review you have left us! We aim for excellence in every aspect of what we do here at Glacier Helicopters, it’s great to see we hit the mark with you. We will pass your feedback on to Charlotte, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday. The Glacier Helicopters team
    Written 24 February 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    taylor52
    130 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    We booked the 2 glacier flight, but because of weather, we were only able to get to Fox Glacier. I anticipated sweeping views of the glacier and surroundings during the flight...I was wrong. The only people who had a view were the 2 who lucked out and got the front seat. I was in middle of the back seat, and my only view during the flight was the back of others' heads. Once there, there was only a short time confined to a small area of the glacier. Being on the glacier was moderately interesting, but there was no information provided. Just get out, take a photo, walk a few yards and get back in. I was disappointed in this experience and it certainly wasn't worth the $200!!
    Written 3 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello there, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Safety is paramount here at Glacier Helicopters, many decisions our ground crew and pilots make are to ensure the safety of all crew and passengers. We do reduce our flights down if, in case of the weather, it is not safe to complete the full route. Our loaders assess all passengers joining our flights and seat you in accordance with what will be the optimum weight, balance and centre of gravity for the helicopter. We do make every effort to have at least one member of each group sit by a window. We’re sorry you didn’t enjoy the experience with us as much as we would like, however, the photo of you by our helicopter on the Fox Neve with the Tasman Sea in the background is a beautiful keepsake, and we hope that you enjoy the rest of your time here in New Zealand.
    Written 9 February 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Deliah Q
    Bay of Islands, New Zealand66 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2020
    This had to be one of the highlights of our holiday. It was an absolutely amazing experience. We were lucky to be upgraded to a longer flight, thankyou Jess, much appreciated. Could not believe our luck actually, beautiful weather, flew over both Franz Joseph and the Fox Glaciers and a landing. Huge thanks to our Pilot Tim, felt safe and secure the whole trip and was given an informative commentary of the surrounds, awesome. Great time to travel the country right now, great deals abound. Highly recommend AAA+
    Written 14 November 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello DeliaH. Thank you for taking the time to write us a lovely review. Your photo of the two of you on the Fox Neve is beautiful, what a special keepsake to have of your experience. We take a lot of pride in delivering exceptional customer service, we’re thrilled to see that Jess and Tim hit the mark. You cannot beat the West Coast on a good day, and seeing both the glaciers here from above will be an experience you’ll remember for life. Thank you again for leaving us a review, you’re right, it is an excellent time to travel the country. We hope you enjoy the rest of your travels.
    Written 13 December 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Trippax2
    Gosford, Australia76 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Couples
    The day my husband and I were to take this flight the weather was terrible and The Helicopter Line Fox Glacier contacted me in the morning to cancel our afternoon flight.
    They were very understanding of our overnight stay in Fox Glacier and rescheduled for the following morning.
    The flight took place at 10.00am and was shortened by ten minutes due to wind conditions on the mountain. However this did not detract from the experience.
    There were six passengers on this flight and I was fortunate to be in the front and my husband behind at the window.
    It had snowed overnight which meant we landed on a mountain with a fresh covering and the views were spectacular.
    I would highly recommended this experience.
    Written 29 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Kia Ora, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience and 5-star review. We're glad you were able to join us on a flight, despite the weather. The views from the flight are extraordinary, and we're so lucky to share them with our guests. We appreciate your recommendation and thank you for flying with us.
    Written 25 April 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Lydia H
    37 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    Our young pilot was awesome. We careened past waterfalls and rock faces like an eagle. The whole experience will be a lasting memory. Don't come to New Zealand without landing on Fox Glacier. I got a bit wet making my snow angel because the ash from the recent Australian fires has made the snow slushy and brown. The tour was well organized and executed. I'm so happy we spent the money. It was absolutely worth it!
    Written 6 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to leave your 5-star review! It sounds like you had a wonderful experience with us. You’re right, the views of the glaciers from one of our scenic flights are amazing. We’re glad to hear our staff took good care of you, we will be sure to pass it on. Thanks again for leaving us a review, we hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in New Zealand.
    Written 18 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jacinda
    Auckland, New Zealand22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    July 2020
    On the spur of the moment we decided to make the most of the amazing deals offered and embarked on one of our bucket list adventures. Got lucky with the weather and had fantastic views and perfect conditions on the glacier. It was our first time in a helicopter and we're hooked. A young couple with a baby came up with us and we were all taken such good care of. If you've thought about it, go for it. It was so much fun. Such friendly service from Mossy our pilot, Lina our loader and Jess at check in. Thanks for a great experience.
    Written 28 July 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for flying with us and for your lovely review! We are thrilled that you enjoyed your flight and got to experience the West Coast Glaciers and southern alps! We pride ourselves on our friendly customer service and will pass your compliments on to Mossy, Lina and Jess. We hope to have you fly with us again in the future!
    Written 7 September 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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