Where to take a glacier flight in New Zealand, and what each side of the Main Divide gives you.
Pick a day, or the first and last day you are in the area. We check the booking calendar of every flight in this section and show which ones still have places.
Time: 35 min
Time: 30 min
Time: 20–25 min
Time: 25–30 min
Duration: 35 min
Time: 40 min
Time: 25 min
Time: 40 min
Time: 50 min
Time: 50 min
If you are on the West Coast, fly from Franz Josef or Fox Glacier: both villages have Twin Glacier flights over the same two glaciers with a snow landing, so pick the one on your route. Franz Josef has the most choice. If you are on the eastern side, Aoraki/Mount Cook gives you New Zealand’s highest peak and the Tasman Glacier, its longest. The longer flights from either side cross the Main Divide, so you can see both from one base.
One flight per wish, chosen on what its listing states.
Twice the ice: Fox and Franz Josef in one 35-minute flight, landing on the glacier along the way to compare two very different ice formations.
Fox and Franz Josef in one go: 25–30 minutes of flight time in a twin-engine six-seater, landing in the snow at the head of one of the two glaciers.
Over the Tasman Glacier and the Hochstetter Icefall, with a landing on the glacier itself and views across the national park.
Open a card for the route, the meeting point and the cancellation terms.
Twice the ice: Fox and Franz Josef in one 35-minute flight, landing on the glacier along the way to compare two very different ice formations.
30 Main Road, SH6, Franz Josef 7856
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
Both glaciers in a 30-minute round trip with a 10-minute snow landing, plus views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.
Alpine Adventure Centre, 29 Main Road, Franz Josef
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
Franz Josef and Fox in one go: 20–25 minutes of flight time in a twin-engine six-seater, landing in the snow at the head of one of the two glaciers.
The Helicopter Line Franz Josef Glacier, Main South Road (SH6), Franz Josef 7856
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
Fox and Franz Josef in one go: 25–30 minutes of flight time in a twin-engine six-seater, landing in the snow at the head of one of the two glaciers.
The Helicopter Line Fox Glacier, Main South Road (SH6), Fox Glacier 7859
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
Both West Coast glaciers in a single 35-minute flight from the Fox Glacier base, with a glacier landing along the way.
Glacier Helicopters Fox Glacier, Main South Road, SH6, Fox Glacier 7859
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
Three glaciers in one 40-minute flight (Franz Josef, Fox and the ice fields towards Mount Cook) with a snow landing amongst ancient ice.
The Helicopter Line Franz Josef Glacier, Main South Road (SH6), Franz Josef 7856
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
Up the Tasman Valley and onto a mountain landing site looking directly at Aoraki/Mount Cook. Snow landings happen most of the year but cannot be guaranteed in summer.
Mount Cook Aerodrome, Mount Cook Road, Mount Cook 7999
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
Over the Tasman Glacier and the Hochstetter Icefall, with a landing on the glacier itself and views across the national park.
Glacier Helicopters Ltd, 81 Bowen Drive, Aoraki/Mount Cook Village
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
The long Southern Lakes flight over Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, with a snow landing on the Tasman Glacier.
Mount Cook Airport
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
The grand loop from the village: Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers in one 50-minute flight around Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Glacier Helicopters Ltd, 81 Bowen Drive, Aoraki/Mount Cook Village
Flight details as the listing on the booking site states them.
Taken from each GetYourGuide or Viator listing. Where it says nothing, the field says so.
| Flight | Time | Landing | Whole trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Glacier Flight, Franz Josef & Fox (35 min) | 35 min | Snow landing | 35 min |
| Twin Glacier Flight with 10-min Snow Landing (30 min) | 30 min | Snow landing | 30 min |
| Twin Glacier Flight with Snow Landing | 20–25 min | Snow landing | 35 min |
| Twin Glacier Flight with Snow Landing | 25–30 min | Snow landing | 35 min |
| Twin Glacier Flight, Fox & Franz Josef (35 min) | Not stated | Not stated | 35 min |
| Franz Josef, Fox & Mount Cook Flight (40 min) | 40 min | Snow landing | 40 min |
| Alpine Landing Flight facing Aoraki/Mount Cook (25 min) | 25 min | Snow landing | 25 min |
| Tasman Glacier Flight with Glacier Landing (40 min) | 40 min | Snow landing | 40 min |
| Ultimate Aoraki Flight with Tasman Snow Landing (50 min) | 50 min | Snow landing | 50 min |
| Tasman & West Coast Glaciers Flight (50 min) | 50 min | Snow landing | 50 min |
Time is the flying time where the listing gives it separately, otherwise the stated duration including the landing.
Franz Josef is one of the two glacier villages on New Zealand's West Coast and one of the easiest places in the country to get airborne: six operators fly from bases right in the village, from an 18-minute overflight to 90-minute Aoraki/Mount Cook panoramas, most with a snow landing. Every listed flight is free to cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
Fox Glacier is the quieter of the two West Coast glacier villages, and its helicopter menu mirrors the big neighbour: The Helicopter Line, Glacier Helicopters and HeliServices.NZ all fly from their own bases on Main Road, from a 10-minute névé hop to 40-minute Mount Cook panoramas, most with a snow landing. Every listed flight is free to cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
Three of the operators here (The Helicopter Line, Glacier Helicopters and HeliServices.NZ) also run their own base in Fox Glacier village with a mirrored programme, and every Twin Glacier flight overflies both glaciers anyway. Fly from whichever village fits your itinerary; the Fox Glacier page lists the departures from there.
Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest peak, and the flying here matches it: six operators lift off from three departure points (Mount Cook Airport, the village at Bowen Drive and Glentanner Park on SH80) for alpine landings, flights along the full length of the Tasman Glacier and heli-hikes on its ice. Every listed flight is free to cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
Snow landings on pure helicopter flights happen most of the year but are not guaranteed in summer: INFLITE states about 95% of the year, The Helicopter Line notes “subject to snow levels”. The ski plane combo is the year-round exception.
From 30 minutes towards the Tasman Glacier up to 60–90 minutes across the main divide: these flights add Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak, to the glacier views.
The long flights: along New Zealand's longest glacier, past the Hochstetter Icefall. The 50–55-minute routes cross to Franz Josef and Fox.
A short helicopter flight up to the ice, then a guided walk on the glacier before flying back down. They are offered at Franz Josef, Fox Glacier and Aoraki/Mount Cook, on the Tasman Glacier from Queenstown, as the Siberia Valley wilderness combination from Makarora near Wanaka, and on the Kepler Track near Te Anau, where the helicopter only takes you up. All of them are compared on the heli-hikes page.
Three of the operators here (The Helicopter Line, Glacier Helicopters and HeliServices.NZ) also run their own base in Fox Glacier village with a mirrored programme, and every Twin Glacier flight overflies both glaciers anyway. Fly from whichever village fits your itinerary; the Fox Glacier page lists the departures from there.
Snow landings on the glacier névé are the signature of Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. Aoraki/Mount Cook and Wanaka fly alpine landings, Queenstown lands on the Remarkables, and some Milford Sound flights include a glacier landing. Each flight card states whether a landing is included; pure overflights are marked as such.
Scenic flights are weather-dependent and the operators decide on the day. If your flight is cancelled, they offer an alternative date or a full refund.
