Franz Josef Helicopter Hike: Is it worth it? And everything you need to know

The Franz Josef Helicopter Hike in New Zealand‘s South Island is more than just a bucket list tick. It is an unforgettable experience, and a quite literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience, given that the glacier is likely to be gone in the next 20 years. But let’s face it, it is by far a budget-friendly activity. So, is the Franz Josef Helicopter Hike worth it? And what really is it?

How the Franz Josef Helicopter Hike Works

The experience begins in Franz Josef village. You meet at the base, and from there have a safety briefing and get given the clothes and equipment you need for the hike. From there, you walk to the helipad, where you hand over your crampons and helmet to go outside the helicopter.

You will have been assigned a helicopter and seat based on weight, so you are instructed when to board. It is then a short flight up the glacier. Upon landing, you disembark, put on your crampons, helmet and get your hiking pole and set off following your guide.

You spend time walking across the glacier, traversing some crevices and even going through tunnels. Before making your way back to the heli launch spot and flying back down to base.

What Makes This Experience Different from a Regular Glacier Walk

The main difference between a hike on the Franz Josef glacier and a regular glacier walk is access. Traditional glacier hikes often start from the valley floor, and you reach the glacier on foot. Today, the only way to walk on Franz Josef Glacier is by helicopter.

The big difference is that the location of the walk changes each day, based on the conditions and ice. A crew is dropped, literally, off on the glacier first thing. They create the landing spot for the day and carve the initial route. Testing the safety along the way.

Why a Helicopter Is the Only Way to Access the Glacier Now

Due to glacial retreat and unstable conditions, the only way to access the Franz Josef Glacier is by helicopter. Previous routes from the valley floor are no longer safe or possible. The glacier has thinned and pulled back significantly over recent decades, leaving the lower valley filled with loose rock, icefall risk and unstable terrain. While it may feel extravagant, helicopter access is not a luxury add-on; it is a necessity. Without it, standing on Franz Josef Glacier simply wouldn’t be possible anymore. Sadly, this shows how significantly the glacier is retreating.

What you need to know before doing the Franz Josef Helicopter Hike

Cancellation Risk

This is a big one. In 2024, the Franz Josef helicopter hike was cancelled 90% of the time. It is incredibly dependent on the weather – storms, wind, snow factors, etc. (and a lot more technical stuff that I am not sure I understand). But the weather can be fine in the town of Franz Josef, but your hike can still get cancelled. You can also be all dressed and ready to go before the pilot or the crew on the glacier deems it not safe. Trips can run in the morning, and still be cancelled in the afternoon.

If you aren’t able to hike, then you do get a full refund, but obviously miss the chance to hike. I allowed myself 4 days in Franz Josef to maximise the amount of time I had to complete the hike. I was lucky to be able to do it on the first day I arrived, but this was the last day the hike happened for over two weeks, making me feel even more lucky and priviledged to been able to have this opportunity.

Restrictions

There are a few restrictions you need to be aware of when considering doing the Franz Josef helicopter hike:

• Age: Children must be at least 10 years old. There are also height and weight restrictions, which apply to adults as well.
• Height: To go on the hike, you have to be at least 137cm tall.
• Weight: There is a strict weight limit of 115kg per person. This includes your body weight plus the gear you are wearing. They will weigh you at check-in. Children also need to weigh more than 35kg.
• Fitness level: A basic level of fitness is needed. You need to be comfortable walking on uneven ground for 2.5 hours, as well as able to climb some fairly large steps, but you don’t need to be super fit.

What to Expect on a Franz Josef Helicopter Hike

Scenic Helicopter Flight Over Franz Josef Glacier

The first part of the experience is the helicopter ride up to the glacier. This is so much more than just a means to get up there; it is one of the best parts of the experience. The ride is short; it would be great if it could be longer, but it is spectacular. Flying in a helicopter is a surreal experience from the moment it lifts off the ground. Swooping and diving around the stunning glacier, and watching it arrive in front of you – it is something else. A huge wall of stunning blue ice that approaches rapidly. You then land on a landing pad that has been created that day.

Guided Ice Hike Experience

During your hike, you will be in a group of no more than 10 people. Two helicopters fly for each trip, with 5 in each. You will also have a guide whom you follow. They lead the way, and often have to carve new routes as the ice changes. A team goes up earlier than the tours, and scopes out possible routes and adds steps, etc., if needed, but your guide will tweak this as you go. The glacier is always moving, cracking and reforming, so no two hikes are the same.

The hike will involve various formations, depending on how the ice has shifted. You can expect ice caves, crevasses and glacier formations. If the conditions allow, your guide may lead you into naturally formed ice tunnels carved by meltwater. Inside, the ice often glows in vivid shades of blue and white, caused by rock flour. They are shaped into smooth curves and ripples by flowing water. These caves can appear and disappear within days, making them a fleeting and rare feature of the glacier.

Crevasses cut deep into the ice, creating huge fissures that can stretch for metres. Some are narrow and sharply defined, while others open into wide chasms. Guides carefully carve steps and choose routes that allow you to safely navigate around or across these features, giving you a close-up look at the glacier’s structure.

The glacier is filled with sculpted ice walls, arches and towering formations that shift daily. You may see ice tinted blue by compressed air bubbles, streaked with ash or debris, or shaped into jagged ridges by wind and melt. Your guide will explain how these formations develop and why the glacier looks different every single day.

How long is the experience

The helicopter flight there and back takes 10 minutes each way, and you will have around 2 and a half hours on the glacier. Meaning the entire experience will take around 3 hours.

How Much Does the Franz Josef Helicopter Hike Cost?

As of 2026, the cost for the Franz Josef helicopter hike is around $795 NZD (around £340). Which is a significant cost. But why is the Franz Josef helicopter hike so expensive? This is primarily due to the high operational cost of flying the helicopters. As well as the need for highly specialised guides and safety equipment required to navigate an ever changing enviroment.

The high chance of cancellation also plays into the cost. As the guides and pilots have to be on standby. As well as frequent refunds being given.

What to Wear on a Franz Josef Helicopter Hike

Knowing what to wear on a Franz Josef helicopter hike can make a huge difference to how comfortable you feel on the glacier. Conditions can change quickly, and even on a clear day, it can be cold and windy on the ice, so layering is key.

What the Tour Company Provides

The tour company will provide you with all the technical equipment you need for the hike. This is what the company I did the hike with provided me with:

• Sturdy hiking boots suitable for walking on ice, as well as the socks to go in them.
• Crampons, which attach to your boots for grip on the glacier.
• Waterproof jacket and over-trousers to protect against wind, snow and meltwater.
• A small cross-body bag for carrying extra layers
• An helmet for added protection on the glacier.
• A hiking pole, which you might need for extra stability
• Warm gloves, made of wool and a hat to go under the helmet.

What You Need to Bring Yourself

You need to make sure you are wearing the appropriate layers underneath:

• Warm, breathable base layers such as merino or polypropylene
• Leggings or suitable long pants for walking in (not jeans!)
• Sunglasses are absolutely necessary. The sun shining off the glacier is bright and can cause damage.
• Sunscreen, again necessary.
• Your own warm hat and gloves if you prefer
• Your camera or phone
• A small water bottle

Alternative Ways to see the Franz Josef Glacier

If, after reading this, you feel like the Franz Josef helicopter hike isn’t for you, but you still want to see the glacier itself, there are some other options:

• Helicopter snow landing (with no hike): This gives you the thrill and the views of the helicopter, as well as a landing, so a chance to stand on the glacier, but without the hike element. A cheaper option.
• The Robert’s Point Track: The best views, and for free. This five-hour hike is tough, but it offers one of the best views in New Zealand.
• Sentinel Rock & Glacier View Tracks: A much lower effort, each is only a 20-minute flat walk from the end of the access road and gives you a view, albeit a distant one.

What else to do in Franz Josef

If you allow yourself a few days in the town to make sure you have the best chance of completing the heli hike, then you might have a few spare days to partake in other activities. Here are some of the other things to do in Franz Josef:

• Fox Glacier Heli Hike: If one hike isn’t enough, then take the opportunity to see the other glacier, often with fewer people on it.
• Quad biking: A two-hour tour where you drive through muddy streams and across river beds. A lot of fun, and even more so if it’s muddy!

• Skydiving: Another iconic place in New Zealand to skydive as you will have incredible views of the glacier from above.
• West Coast Wildlife Centre: The chances of seeing kiwis in the wild are slim to none, but can you really visit New Zealand without seeing one? This is a rearing centre, and home to the world’s rarest kiwi.
• Hiking: There are so many stunning hikes to do around Franz Josef, for all lengths and fitness levels. Including the short and scenic Lake Matheson Walk, the popular Franz Josef Glacier Viewpoint Track, and the more challenging Alex Knob Track for panoramic views

Where to stay in Franz Josef

If you are staying in Franz Josef for a few days, you need accommodation that suits your needs.

Luxury: Legacy Te Waonui Hotel Franz Josef – An upscale hotel with beautiful rooms, excellent service and a convenient village location with rainforest surrounds.
Mid-range: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier -Modern rooms, on-site dining and bar facilities, easy access to the town and comfy rooms.
Budget: Rainforest Retreat – Offers a range of accommodation, including backpackers’ rooms, in beautiful surroundings, complete with a hot tub.

Final thoughts: Is the Franz Josef Helicopter Hike worth it?

In my opinion, yes. I am so glad I got the chance to experience hiking on this glacier. It was one of the best things I did in New Zealand, and I definitely lived up to the hype. It was one of the top New Zealand adventures I wanted to have during my time in the country. However, I didn’t want to get my hopes up, given how often it is cancelled.

If you have the time and the budget, I would definitely try to add this to your New Zealand trip. And while Franz Josef isn’t a large town, there is enough to do with a chilled vibe that means it is worth spending a few days in the town to maximise your chance of being able to do the Franz Josef Helicopter Hike.

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