Experience the stunning blue ice and high-altitude snowfields of the Southern Alps from above. Choose from scenic flights with snow landings or immersive heli-hike adventures directly on the glacier.
Free Cancellation Hike Fox Glacier with a 50-year-old guiding team that flies more often than rivals due to its lower altitude.
Free Cancellation This 25-minute helicopter tour flies over Fox Glacier's icefalls and includes a landing on the upper snowfields.
Free Cancellation This 35-minute helicopter flight crosses Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and includes a landing on the upper snowfields.
Free Cancellation Fly from Fox Glacier Village over the crevasses to a snow landing near the west face of Aoraki (Mount Cook).
Free Cancellation Helicopter over three of the Southern Alps' largest glaciers with a landing on high-altitude snowfields.
Free Cancellation A 20-minute helicopter flight from Fox Glacier town to the upper icefall with a snow landing for photos.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Fox Glacier — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Helicopters provide the only way to set foot on the upper reaches of Fox Glacier. Flights depart from the village helipad, crossing 13 kilometers of ice that drops 2,600 meters from the Southern Alps to the rainforest. You can book a quick 20-minute loop with a snow landing or spend four hours hiking the lower icefall in crampons.
From the air, you look directly down at the massive blue-white wall of the lower glacier. The ice here is heavily crevassed and unstable, which is why ground access is no longer permitted.
The lower icefall breaks into jagged blocks and deep blue crevasses as it flows over steep bedrock. Heli-hikes land just above this section, where guides cut steps through the formations.
High above the valley, the glacier begins as a massive, flat snowfield. Most scenic flights touch down here for about 10 minutes, letting you step out into sub-zero temperatures.
Longer 35-minute flights cross the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. From the cockpit, you look directly at New Zealand's highest peak, standing 3,724 meters tall.
Some routes cross the ridges to neighboring Franz Josef Glacier. You see both valleys side-by-side, dropping sharply toward the Tasman Sea.
Weather dictates everything on the West Coast, so book your flight for your first available day. If clouds roll in, operators will try to reschedule you for the next clear window.
A standard scenic flight takes 20 to 35 minutes and includes a brief 10-minute snow landing on the upper névé. The 4-hour heli-hike lands lower on the ice, giving you up to three hours to walk through ice caves and arches with a guide.
Heli-hikes require children to be at least 9 years old and accompanied by an adult. Scenic flights allow infants on laps. Individual passengers cannot exceed 116 kg on the heli-hike due to aircraft balance rules.
Temperatures on the ice drop to freezing even in summer. Wear three to four warm layers, sunglasses, and sturdy shoes. Operators provide leather boots, socks, and crampons for the hiking tours.
You cannot bring bags, iPads, drones, or selfie sticks in the cabin. Leave vapes, lighters, and portable chargers on the ground, as aviation rules ban them on these flights.
Spring brings the highest rainfall and the most canceled flights. If your trip gets scrubbed, you receive a full refund or the option to fly from Mount Cook or Franz Josef instead.
A basic 20-minute flight costs around $208 USD, while the 4-hour heli-hike runs closer to $488 USD. There are no additional national park entry fees to pay.
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| Entry-Level Flight | Twin Glacier Flight | Guided Heli-Hike | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 20 minutes | 35 minutes | 4 hours |
| Ice Time | 10-minute snow landing | 10-minute snow landing | Up to 3 hours hiking |
| Best For | Quick photos and tight budgets | Seeing both Fox and Franz Josef | Active explorers wanting to walk on ice |
| Price (USD) | ~$208 | ~$297 | ~$488 |
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Helicopter flights operate year-round, weather permitting. Guided heli-hikes depart at fixed times, typically 8:50am and 11:50am, with additional departures added on demand.
The Westland Tai Poutini National Park Visitor Centre in nearby Franz Josef (69 Cron Street) is open 8:30am to 5pm daily. It closes for a lunch break on weekends and public holidays, and shuts entirely on Christmas Day.
Public walking tracks to the glacier viewpoints remain open 24 hours a day, though access roads frequently close after heavy rain or rockfall.
Fox Glacier village sits on State Highway 6 on the West Coast of the South Island. It is a 25-kilometer, 30-minute drive south of Franz Josef.
December to March offers the mildest weather, longest daylight, and the most reliable conditions for helicopter flights. Autumn (March to May) brings settled weather and fewer crowds.
Spring (September to November) is the wettest season on the West Coast. Heavy rain frequently grounds helicopters and floods the valley access roads.
Book your flight for the morning. Clouds often build up around the Southern Alps in the afternoon, reducing visibility and increasing the chance of cancellation.
Wheelchair users can book the 20- to 35-minute scenic helicopter flights. Operators assist with boarding, and the brief snow landings require minimal movement.
The 4-hour heli-hike requires a moderate level of fitness. You will walk on uneven, slippery ice in crampons for up to three hours. It is not suitable for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or limited mobility.
On the ground, the first 2.4 kilometers of the nearby Lake Matheson Walk is a flat, wheelchair-accessible gravel path. The 6.4-kilometer Fox Glacier South Side Walkway is entirely inaccessible to wheelchairs due to creek crossings and a steep 100-meter elevation change.
There are no toilets or drinking water taps on the glacier or during the helicopter flights. Use the public restrooms in Fox Glacier village before checking in for your tour.
Heli-hike operators provide all necessary technical gear. This includes leather boots, thick socks, crampons, walking poles, and waterproof jackets and overtrousers if the weather turns wet.
Parking is free at the helipads and the start of the public walking tracks.
Aviation safety rules dictate what you can carry. Bags of any description, iPads, selfie sticks, and portable chargers are banned from the helicopter cabin. You must leave them at the base.
Drones are strictly prohibited. Flying an unauthorized drone anywhere in Westland Tai Poutini National Park results in confiscation and fines reaching up to $5,000.
If you hike the public trails after your flight, stay behind all marked barriers. The terminal face is highly unstable. Two tourists died in 2009 when 100 tonnes of ice collapsed after they ignored warning signs.
Ground access to the ice is no longer possible. A major storm washed out the old valley track, so public trails now end at viewpoints hundreds of meters from the terminal face. You must book a helicopter to set foot on the glacier.
A 20-minute scenic flight with a brief snow landing starts around $208 USD. The 4-hour guided heli-hike, which includes up to three hours of walking on the ice, costs approximately $488 USD.
Operators make a final weather call 10 minutes before check-in. If rain or high winds ground the helicopters, you receive a full refund or the option to reschedule for another time or location, such as Mount Cook or Franz Josef.
Standard scenic flights include a 10-minute landing on the upper névé, giving you just enough time to step out and take photos. The heli-hike provides two to three hours of active walking time on the lower icefall.
Bags of any kind are prohibited in the cabin due to strict weight and safety regulations. You must leave backpacks, iPads, and selfie sticks at the operator's base.
Children must be at least 9 years old to participate in the guided heli-hike, and anyone under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Infants can join the shorter scenic flights and sit on an adult's lap.
The operator provides heavy leather boots, thick socks, and crampons designed specifically for ice walking. They advise against wearing jeans and will supply waterproof pants and jackets if needed.
Flying a drone is illegal anywhere in Westland Tai Poutini National Park without a specific permit from the Department of Conservation. Operators warn that unauthorized drone use leads to confiscation and severe fines.
You will see Aoraki/Mount Cook if you book the 35-minute flight that crosses the Main Divide. The shorter 20-minute flights stay on the western side of the Alps and focus strictly on the Fox Glacier valley.
Individual passengers on the heli-hike cannot exceed 116 kg (255 lbs) due to aircraft weight and balance calculations. If you weigh more than 15 kg above the weight you declared at booking, you may be bumped from the flight.
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Fox Glacier Guides has operated on this ice for over 50 years. Their rates are lower than other heli-hike operators in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park. They hold the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the area. Helicopters fly more often here because the glacier sits at a lower altitude than nearby Franz Josef. This gap in the clouds results in fewer weather cancellations. It’s the safest bet if your itinerary only allows for one night in the village. Every group follows a unique route to see the day's best ice caves and moulins. The terrain is vast. Wear thick socks to prevent blisters from the stiff crampon-compatible boots.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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The 25-minute flight departs from Fox Glacier Township and heads directly toward the glacier's main icefall. You'll see the blue ice of the lower glacier before climbing to the Neve. It's fast. Pilots usually bank the helicopter to give both sides of the cabin a clear view of the vertical ice walls. The pilot lands the helicopter on the level snowfields at the top of the glacier. You'll have about 10 minutes to walk around on the snow. Wear polarized sunglasses; the white glare at this altitude is blinding. If the cloud ceiling drops below the ridge line, the flight won't go — check the weather report at the terminal 30 minutes before departure. Bring a windproof jacket even in mid-summer.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This 35-minute helicopter flight crosses the icefalls of both Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. You'll fly from the base at Fox Glacier Township straight up to the neve, where the ice begins as high-altitude snow. The pilot steers close to the blue ice formations and deep crevasses. It's the fastest way to see the scale of the West Coast's largest ice rivers. The helicopter lands on the upper snowfields for about ten minutes. You'll step out onto the snow to walk around or take photos of the Southern Alps. It's cold up there. Bring polarized sunglasses because the glare off the white neve is intense. Flights are grounded during heavy rain or low cloud, so call the office for a weather check an hour before your departure.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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The flight leaves from Fox Glacier Village and heads straight over the blue crevasses of the lower glacier. You'll see the ice break into jagged blocks as the pilot climbs toward the upper snowfields. The helicopter lands in the snow above the icefalls. It's cold up there. Bring a jacket. Aoraki (Mount Cook) fills the windows once you're back in the air. The route passes the west face — a massive wall of stone where the slopes are too steep for snow to stick. This face is a vertical desert. Grey rock ribs line the ridges as the helicopter descends back into the green valleys. High winds ground these flights often, so call the office 30 minutes before departure to confirm. Book a morning slot to avoid the clouds that usually roll in by 2:00 PM.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
This flight crosses the Southern Alps to reach three major glaciers: Franz Josef, Fox, and Tasman. 3,724 meters of rock and ice mark Aoraki/Mount Cook, visible after crossing the Main Divide. From the cockpit, look for the jagged seracs and pressure ridges where the ice flows over steep rock. It's a lot of white. The pilot lands on the high-altitude neve for a ten-minute walk on the snow. It's silent up there. Wear sturdy shoes and bring sunglasses to handle the intense light bouncing off the glacier. Clouds often block the West Coast passes, so flights are highly weather-dependent. If the peaks are obscured, the trip won't go. Book the first slot of the day for the best chance of clear skies.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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The helicopter departs from the Fox Glacier town heliport and lands on the snow at the top of the icefall. This 20-minute trip flies directly over deep blue crevasses and vertical ice pinnacles. It’s the entry-level option. You’ll land on the upper snowfield for enough time to take photos before flying back. The glare is intense, so bring sunglasses even if it looks overcast. Weather is the main hurdle. Pilots won’t fly if the cloud ceiling is too low, so call the office 30 minutes before your check-in time. If you’re driving from the north, don’t confuse this with the Franz Josef heliport—it’s a 25-kilometer drive between the two towns. Wear sturdy shoes, as the snow on the landing site is often slippery or slushy depending on the sun. Book the first flight of the day for the best chance of clear skies.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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