A heli-hike combines a short helicopter flight with a walk where no road goes. On the glaciers — Franz Josef and Fox on the West Coast and the Tasman Glacier at Aoraki/Mount Cook — the helicopter drops you on the ice and a guide leads you through the ice formations, for about two hours up to a full day. Away from the ice, the helicopter takes you up the Kepler Track near Te Anau or into the Siberia Valley near Wanaka, and you walk out.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides fly you onto the glacier from the village: about two and a half hours on the ice, or up to five and a half hours in a small group with a glacier picnic lunch. Boots, crampons and rain gear are provided.
Helicopter transfer onto Franz Josef Glacier and around two and a half hours exploring ice formations with an expert guide — boots, crampons and rain gear are provided.
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| GetYourGuideBest price | NZ$899 | ★ 4.8 (400 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
| Viator | NZ$922 | ★ 4.6 (659 reviews) | Book at Viator |
The small-group extended version: up to five and a half hours on the ice with your guide, including a glacier picnic lunch.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$1,549 | ★ 5.0 (1 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
Fox Glacier Guiding flies onto the glacier in about four minutes each way, then you spend up to three hours among ice caves and arches with a guide.
Helicopter transfer onto Fox Glacier and up to three hours among ice caves and arches with a guide — flights take about four minutes each way.
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| GetYourGuideBest price | NZ$849 | ★ 4.9 (366 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
| Viator | NZ$871 | ★ 4.9 (601 reviews) | Book at Viator |
New Zealand's biggest glacier: two operators fly from Mount Cook for up to two hours on the ice. From Queenstown, a day trip combines a plane flight to Mount Cook with the helicopter onto the Tasman Glacier.
Fly over New Zealand's highest mountain and land on the Tasman Glacier for a guided two-hour hike — maximum 150 kg per person including equipment, age 10 and up.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$995 | ★ 4.8 (262 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
Walking on New Zealand's biggest glacier combined with a scenic fly-by of Aoraki/Mount Cook — around 15 minutes of flying each way, up to two hours on the ice.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$995 | ★ 4.9 (329 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
A fixed-wing flight from Queenstown to Aoraki/Mount Cook, then by helicopter onto the Tasman Glacier for about two hours on the ice — the guided glacier day for Queenstown-based travellers.
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| Viator | NZ$2,149 | ★ 4.9 (83 reviews) | Book at Viator |
Here the helicopter takes you up or in, and you walk: on the Kepler Track near Te Anau (guided or on your own), through the Siberia Valley from Makarora with a jet boat back, or on Glentanner Station's high country near Mount Cook.
Pickup in Te Anau, a helicopter flight up to Mount Luxmore, then a fully guided 8 km walk on the Kepler Track past Luxmore Hut and 800 m down through beech forest to Brod Bay, back across the lake by water taxi. Up to 12 people; medium fitness needed, not for children under 8.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$795 | ★ 5.0 (8 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
The wilderness triple from Makarora: a 15-minute helicopter flight over the Southern Alps into the Siberia Valley, a three-hour hike out, and a jet boat ride home with Wilkin River Jets.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$695 | ★ 3.4 (5 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
An eight-minute flight onto Glentanner Station's private high country, then a guided hike with exclusive access to the historic field hut — home baking and hot drinks included.
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| GetYourGuideBest price | NZ$495 | ★ 5.0 (7 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
| Viator | NZ$495 | ★ 5.0 (53 reviews) | Book at Viator |
Every heli-hike listed here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start — checked on each product page.
Heli-hikes depend on flying weather. Plan a spare day, especially on the West Coast — if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead, it costs nothing.
Limits vary by tour: The Helicopter Line's Tasman Glacier heli-hike allows a maximum of 150 kg per person including equipment, from age 10; the guided Kepler Track day is not suitable for children under 8.
The helicopter flight onto the glacier and back and a guided walk on the ice. On Franz Josef, boots, crampons and rain gear are provided; the extended small-group version includes a glacier picnic lunch.
Franz Josef has the most options, from about two and a half hours to a long small-group day on the ice. Fox offers up to three hours among ice caves and arches. The Tasman Glacier at Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's biggest glacier and is also offered as a day trip from Queenstown.
Yes: on the Kepler Track near Te Anau the helicopter flies you up to Mount Luxmore and you walk down (guided or self-guided); from Makarora near Wanaka you fly into the Siberia Valley, hike out and return by jet boat; and at Glentanner near Mount Cook a short flight takes you onto the station's high country for a guided walk.
The operators set their own limits, and they are listed on each booking page. Examples: The Helicopter Line's Tasman Glacier heli-hike is from age 10 with a maximum of 150 kg including equipment; the guided Kepler Track day asks for medium fitness and is not for children under 8.
