Product Overview

Dedicated to the pursuit of adventure, we stay loyal to our stomping ground with one shared goal; provide the best glacial terrain to explore. Encompassed by lush temperate rainforest, soak in the natural wonder of the Franz Josef Glacier as your guide navigates glacial features and crafts your path with their ice axe.

Product Description

With the combination of an exhilarating helicopter ride, jaw-dropping scenery and a two and half hour hike through the most spectacular glacier features, it's no wonder our guests often label their Glacier Heli Hike as the highlight of their visit to Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Your pilot will land high up on the main ice fall of the glacier, where your guide will help you make the final preparations for your hike. Then you will be ready to explore the pristine features of this incredible icescape.

Our guides are highly skilled, which means we can find you both the safest and most spectacular route available on the glacier. Because the glacier is so fast moving, its features are constantly changing - you might find yourself sliding through a narrow crevasse or between towering walls of ice, crawling through blue ice tunnels, hanging out in ice caves, or witnessing the glacier calving. You can be sure that you're seeing the glacier in a unique state and no two trips are ever quite the same.

Departure Times

8:30am (check in 7:30am) & 11.00am (check in 10.00am)

Duration

Up to 4 hours (2.5 hours ice time)

What To Bring

We provide:

• Crampons
• Harness
• Helmet
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof over trousers
• Weatherproof walking boots and socks
• Trekking poles
• A small waist pack to carry your crampons and essentials
• A warm hat and gloves

Please bring with you:

• Warm, breathable base layers such as merino or polypropylene
• Suitable long pants for walking in (jeans are not suitable, tracksuits and leggings are fine)
• Sunglasses (these are essential - if you don't have any with you we have a selection available for purchase at our front desk)
• Sunblock
• Your own warm hat and gloves if you prefer
• Your camera or phone
• A small water bottle and snack if you need one

Please leave the following items behind:

• Your valuables such as passport, wallet and car keys
• Portable chargers and spare camera batteries 

Company Info

Franz Josef Glacier Guides is an internationally recognized guiding operation, established in 1990. We pride ourselves on providing the most incredible experience of the glacier and surrounding areas.

We have exclusive guiding access on the world renowned Franz Josef Glacier. Combining traditional guiding techniques unique to Aotearoa (New Zealand) with modern innovations, we are able to access remote glacier terrain that would normally only be accessible to experienced mountaineers.  

Our guides have an extensive amount of experience and are specialists in their craft. Safety is our highest priority with each trip tailored to the ability of your group, as well as the conditions of the ice on the day.