Fox Glacier and Mount Cook Helicopter Flight

About This Experience

This 35-minute flight with The Helicopter Line leaves from Fox Glacier village, 24 km south of Franz Josef, and pairs a snow landing near the top of Fox Glacier with a pass by Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. The 35 minutes cover the whole trip, landing included, so you spend roughly 25 minutes in the air. Expect to arrive half an hour early for check-in and the safety briefing.

You lift off from the company's base on the Main Road and fly up the Fox Glacier valley toward the névé, the snowfield that feeds the glacier from the alpine basins above. The pilot sets down on that snowfield for about 10 minutes, weather permitting, with the ice formations of the upper glacier around you. From there the route runs past Aoraki/Mt Cook before you descend to Fox village, with commentary through your headset.

The flight suits you if you are staying in Fox Glacier, or driving south from Franz Josef, and want one glacier landing plus the mountain views in a short slot. At $280 per person it costs the same as the 35-minute two-glacier flight from Franz Josef compared on this site, so the choice usually comes down to where you sleep and whether Aoraki/Mt Cook matters more to you than a second glacier.

The listing has 44 reviews at 4.5, fewer than the busiest Franz Josef flights, and none of them are low-star. The main practical catch is minimum numbers: the operator groups smaller bookings with other passengers to fill the helicopter, and if the flight still cannot fill you get a full refund. Cloud can stop the landing or the whole flight, so book early in your stay.

Highlights

• Snow landing on the névé at the head of Fox Glacier
• Flight past Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain
• Views down the length of Fox Glacier and its icefalls
• Pilot commentary through a headset for the whole route
• Checks in at Fox Glacier village, not Franz Josef
• Fox Glacier and the alpine glaciers that feed it, seen from above

What's Included

• ✓ Scenic helicopter flight of about 35 minutes, landing included
• ✓ Pilot
• ✓ Informative commentary on the way
• ✓ Snow landing at the top of Fox Glacier (approx. 10 minutes, weather permitting)
• ✓ Option of another date or a full refund if weather cancels the flight

Not Included

• Transfer from Franz Josef (the flight leaves from Fox Glacier village)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Food and drinks

What to Bring

• Warm clothing, including a jacket
• Closed-toe, waterproof shoes
• Camera
• Sunglasses for the glare off the snow

Good to Know & Caveats

• Weather decides on the day. If the flight is canceled for weather you can move to another date or take a full refund through GetYourGuide; free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before.
• Minimum passenger numbers apply. Smaller bookings are combined with other passengers, and you get a full refund if the minimum is not reached.
• Check in 30 minutes before departure at The Helicopter Line base on the Main Road (State Highway 6), Fox Glacier.
• Passengers are weighed at check-in. The Helicopter Line may reschedule a booking if your actual weight is 15 kg or more above the weight you declared.
• Drones, selfie sticks and tablets are not allowed on board.

Meeting Point

Check in at The Helicopter Line base on the Main Road (State Highway 6) in Fox Glacier village, about 25 minutes' drive south of Franz Josef.