Explore the stunning icefalls and snowfields of Fox Glacier by helicopter or on foot. Choose from scenic flights with high-altitude snow landings, guided rainforest nature walks, or immersive heli-hike adventures.
Free Cancellation Hike Fox Glacier on a route that operates more frequently and costs less than neighboring heli-hikes.
Free Cancellation This 25-minute helicopter flight circles Fox Glacier's icefalls and includes a landing on the upper snowfields.
Free Cancellation Fly over Fox and Franz Josef glaciers during this 30-minute flight with a high-altitude snow landing.
Free Cancellation Walk through Westland Tai Poutini rainforest for views of Mt Tasman and the upper Fox Glacier.
Free Cancellation This 35-minute helicopter tour flies over Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and includes a landing on the upper snowfields.
Free Cancellation This helicopter flight from Fox Glacier Village includes a snow landing and views of Aoraki’s west face.
Free Cancellation Fly over Franz Josef, Fox, and Tasman Glaciers with a snow landing near the base of Mount Cook.
Free Cancellation 20-minute helicopter flight from Fox Glacier town with a landing on the upper icefall snowfields.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Fox Glacier — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Fox Glacier descends 2,600 meters from the Southern Alps into a coastal rainforest. Guided tours bypass the unstable terminal face, flying directly onto the ice or circling the upper snowfields. You choose between landing on the snow for a brief walk or strapping on crampons for a multi-hour hike through crevasses.
Helicopters drop you near Victoria Falls for three hours of guided walking among crevasses and ice arches. Guides cut steps into the ice as you go. You wear provided crampons to grip the frozen surface.
Scenic flights circle the 11.7-kilometer glacier without landing. You get a clear view of the deep blue icefalls and the jagged pinnacles from above. The pilots provide commentary through headsets.
Shorter 20- to 35-minute flights touch down on the high-altitude snowfields. The pilot shuts down the engine so you can walk on the snow for about 10 minutes. The temperature drops significantly up here.
Some tours cross the main divide to cover both Fox and Franz Josef glaciers in a single 30-minute trip. You see the contrasting ice formations of both valleys. Mount Cook sits directly in the flight path.
Ground tours stick to the valley floor, walking through podocarp forests and over old moraine ridges. You see the glacier from a distance rather than walking on the ice. The guides explain the valley's geology.
The dark, tannin-stained waters of Lake Matheson mirror Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. The best reflection happens at dawn on a windless day. A flat gravel path makes this an easy detour.
Booking a Fox Glacier tour requires planning around the West Coast's volatile weather. Helicopter flights cancel frequently, so flexibility is your best tool. Schedule your flight for your first morning in town.
Helicopter tours depend entirely on clear skies and low wind. Book your flight for your first day in the area. If bad weather grounds the fleet, you get a refund or reschedule for the next morning.
You choose between heli-hikes, scenic flights with a snow landing, or guided valley nature walks. The ice itself is only accessible by helicopter. The valley tracks washed out years ago.
Heli-hikes require children to be at least 9 years old and accompanied by an adult. Helicopters also enforce a strict individual weight limit of 116 kg. The pilots calculate the aircraft's balance before every flight.
Heli-hike operators provide the necessary technical gear. You get leather boots, crampons, walking poles, and waterproof jackets. You only need to bring warm base layers and sunglasses to handle the glare.
Drones are illegal in Westland Tai Poutini National Park without a permit. Helicopter operators also ban selfie sticks, iPads, and bags of any kind in the cabin. You can only bring a camera or a phone.
Scenic flights start around $200 USD for a 20-minute trip. Full heli-hikes cost closer to $488 USD and include the helicopter transfers and guided ice time. Flights covering both glaciers cost about $270 USD.
Access to the national park and public walking tracks is free. You only pay for commercial tours and flights. You do not need a ticket to walk the Lake Matheson loop.
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| Heli-Hike | Twin Glacier Flight | Short Scenic Flight | Guided Nature Walk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 4 hours | 30-35 minutes | 20-25 minutes | Half-day |
| Best for | Active travelers wanting ice time | Seeing maximum terrain quickly | Tight budgets and schedules | Families and grounded days |
| Includes | Boots, crampons, guide, flights | Flight over Fox & Franz Josef, snow landing | Flight, 10-minute snow landing | Guide, rain gear, poles |
| Price from | $488 | $270 | $208 | $65 |
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The glacier valley tracks remain open 24 hours a day, though DOC closes them during heavy rain or rockfall. The Westland Tai Poutini National Park Visitor Centre in Franz Josef opens daily from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. It closes for a lunch break on weekends and shuts down completely on Christmas Day.
Commercial heli-hikes run on a fixed schedule. Departures typically happen at 8:50 am and 11:50 am year-round. Operators add extra flights on demand during the busy summer months.
Fox Glacier village sits on State Highway 6. Driving from Christchurch takes about 5.5 hours via Arthur's Pass. Hokitika is a two-hour drive north, and Franz Josef is just 25 kilometers away.
InterCity operates a daily bus from Queenstown that takes just over seven hours and costs around NZ$130. There is no direct bus from Christchurch. You have to connect through Greymouth, turning the trip into a full-day journey.
December through March brings the most reliable flying conditions. Summer gives you the best odds of getting in the air, though rain hits the West Coast year-round. Autumn also delivers settled weather with fewer people on the trails.
Spring is the wettest season. Heavy rain between September and November frequently washes out the valley tracks and grounds the helicopters. Skip the midday winds if you want to photograph Lake Matheson. Dawn provides the stillest water for the mountain reflections.
The first 2.4 kilometers of the Lake Matheson Walk is a flat, gravel path suitable for wheelchairs. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the Jetty Lookout. The car park has three mobility parking spaces and an accessible toilet.
The Fox Glacier South Side Walkway is not accessible. The 6.4-kilometer trail involves uneven moraine, creek crossings, and a steep 100-meter climb near the end. Helicopter operators can accommodate wheelchair users on scenic flights, but heli-hikes require high physical mobility to navigate the ice.
Trailhead facilities are minimal. Lake Matheson has toilets at the car park, but you will not find drinking water on any of the glacier tracks. Buy supplies and fill your water bottles in Fox Glacier village before setting out.
Fuel is scarce on the West Coast. Fill your tank in Fox Glacier or Franz Josef. There are no petrol stations on the 171-kilometer stretch between Franz Josef and Hokitika, and the local pumps often close early in the evening.
Stay behind the marked barriers at the glacier viewpoints. The terminal face is highly unstable, and a 100-tonne ice collapse killed two tourists here in 2009. Ignoring the warning signs is dangerous.
Drones are illegal everywhere in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. You need a specific DOC permit to fly one. Helicopter operators enforce this strictly, banning drones and selfie sticks from their cabins. Dogs are also prohibited on all glacier area tracks to protect native birds.
No. A major storm washed out the old access track, so the public trails only lead to viewpoints hundreds of meters from the terminal face. You have to book a helicopter flight to reach the ice.
The standard heli-hike costs NZ$795 per person. This covers the two helicopter transfers, technical gear, and about three hours of guided walking on the ice.
Operators cancel flights when rain or high winds make flying unsafe. You receive a full refund or the option to rebook for a later time.
Children must be at least 9 years old to join a heli-hike. They also need to be accompanied by an adult. Younger children can take the scenic flights instead.
No. Flying a drone without a specific permit is illegal throughout Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Operators warn that unauthorized drones can result in confiscation and fines up to $5,000.
Flights range from 20 to 35 minutes. Most options include a brief 10-minute landing on the upper snowfields before returning to the village.
No. The operators provide heavy leather boots and crampons designed for the ice. They also supply waterproof jackets and pants if the weather turns.
Fox Glacier village sits 25 kilometers south of Franz Josef along State Highway 6. The drive takes about 30 minutes.
Wear warm, layered clothing and sturdy shoes. The temperature on the ice is much colder than in the village. Bring sunglasses to protect your eyes from the intense glare of the snow.
No. Entry to Westland Tai Poutini National Park is free. You can walk the public trails to the glacier viewpoints and Lake Matheson without paying any fees.
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Fox Glacier sits at a lower elevation than neighboring ice fields, so flights land here when clouds ground other tours. That makes it the most reliable pick for travelers on a tight schedule. You'll spend several hours on the ice crossing pressure ridges and blue meltwater pools. It's the least expensive heli-hike in the region. Guides have operated on this specific glacier for 50 years. They cut new steps into the ice every morning to reach the best caves and arches before they shift. The terrain is wide enough that you won't see other groups once you're away from the landing zone. If the wind is too high, the trip is off—call the office 30 minutes before your check-in time. Wear three layers on top.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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The flight departs from Fox Glacier Township and follows the valley up to the vertical icefalls. You'll spend 25 minutes in the air and on the snow. Pilots fly close to the jagged blue ridges that are impossible to reach on foot. It’s loud inside. You’ll wear headsets to hear the pilot's commentary. The helicopter lands on the upper snowfields for a ten-minute stop. You can step out onto the névé, the high-altitude area where snow accumulates to feed the glacier below. Bring polarized sunglasses to handle the whiteout glare. If the clouds drop or the wind picks up, the company will ground all flights immediately. Check the weather forecast at the base before you pay for parking.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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You'll fly over both Fox and Franz Josef glaciers and land on the high-altitude snowfields during this 30-minute flight. Flights depart from either township; check the separate schedules for each. The route crosses the main divide. You'll see the blue ice of the lower icefalls and the jagged pinnacles where the ice breaks over steep rock. These flights reach the névé, the high-altitude basins where years of snowfall compress into the ice that eventually flows into the valleys. It's a loud, vibrating ride. Expect cancellations if the clouds sit low; pilots won't fly if they can't see the peaks. Check the weather report at the terminal 30 minutes before your slot. Wear sunglasses to handle the glare off the white snowfields—it's intense even when it's cloudy. Morning flights are more reliable because afternoon mist rolls in from the coast. Pick the Franz Josef departure if you want a steeper initial ascent.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This hike climbs through Westland Tai Poutini National Park to viewpoints overlooking the upper Fox Glacier and Mt Tasman. You'll walk under rata and rimu trees in a glaciated rainforest where thick moss covers the trailside rocks. The path reaches spots where you can see the Fox Neve and the granite face of Mt Tasman. It's a steady climb. Guides explain the area's geology and thermology, focusing on how the glacier carved the valley floor. You won't step on the ice or get near the terminal face on this route because the terrain is unstable. Since parts of the trail are public, ask for the route map before booking so you don't pay for a walk you've already done alone. Rain is constant in Westland, but the tour goes ahead regardless. Wear boots with good grip for the wet roots and bring a waterproof shell.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This 35-minute helicopter flight covers both Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. It starts from Fox Glacier Township. You'll fly over the lower icefalls to see the blue serrated ice before climbing toward the névé. The pilot lands the helicopter on a high-altitude snowfield. It's a sharp contrast to the green rainforest just a few kilometers away. Step out onto the snow for photos while the engine is off. The ice here moves constantly. This movement creates deep crevasses and pressure ridges. Weather is the main dealbreaker. If the wind picks up or visibility hits zero, the flight won't go. Book the first flight of the day to avoid the afternoon cloud buildup.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Helicopters leave Fox Glacier Village to fly directly over the primary icefall. You'll see blue ice crevasses, jagged ice forms, and snowfields from the air before the pilot lands on the snow above the glacier's icefalls. It’s cold up there even in mid-summer. Wear sunglasses to handle the glare off the ice. The flight path passes the 3,724-meter peak of Aoraki (Mount Cook). You'll fly past the vertical rock and ice of the mountain's west face before descending back into the lower valleys. Weather in the Southern Alps is volatile. Flights often get canceled at the last minute if clouds move in. Keep your morning flexible.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This helicopter flight crosses the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers—two of the country's largest—before heading over the Southern Alps to the Tasman Glacier. Mount Cook's 3,724-meter summit sits directly in the flight path. The pilot lands the helicopter on the snow so you can step out onto the ice. It's cold on the glacier even in mid-summer. Wear a windproof jacket. The view from the air shows deep blue crevasses and jagged ice ridges that shift as the glaciers move. Bring sunglasses to handle the glare off the white snow during the landing. If clouds cover the peaks, pilots cancel flights for safety—call the base an hour before your departure to confirm. Book the early morning slot for the most stable weather.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This 20-minute helicopter flight departs from the Fox Glacier town heliport and includes a landing on the upper snowfields. You'll fly over the main icefall to see the vertical pinnacles and blue crevasses created as the glacier moves down the valley. The pilot lands the craft on the snow so you can step out for photos. It's the shortest flight option available. Wear polarized sunglasses for the glare. Ensure you arrive at the Fox Glacier base rather than the Franz Josef location 25 kilometers away. Flights are weather-dependent and cancel if visibility drops. Call the base 30 minutes before your departure time to confirm the pilot has cleared the flight.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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