Franz Josef: Grand Circle 60 Minute Scenic Flight

About This Experience

INFLITE's Grand Circle is a one-hour helicopter loop from Franz Josef that crosses the Main Divide and lands on the Tasman Glacier, on the Aoraki/Mt Cook side of the Southern Alps. GetYourGuide files it under Fox Glacier, but the itinerary starts and ends at 69 Cron Street, Franz Josef. Groups are capped at six passengers. The flight itself lasts about an hour, landing included, and passengers over 116 kg cannot fly with this operator.

From the Franz Josef heliport you fly over native rainforest and on past the La Perouse, Balfour, Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, with Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman on the skyline. The route then crosses the divide to the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's longest. On the way home you come back over the West Coast and descend the Franz Josef Glacier to the heliport.

On the Tasman the pilot shuts the helicopter down completely, so the landing is quiet, with time for photos on the snow. The listing does not give a fixed number of minutes on the ground. INFLITE markets itself as the only West Coast operator landing on the Tasman Glacier. At $395 per person the flight suits you if a landing on the far side of the divide is the main goal.

The rating is 4.3 from 13 reviews, a small sample with few reviews so far. INFLITE confirms your exact flight time by email after you book, and it can differ from the slot you picked. If the new time does not work for you, you can cancel for a full refund. Weather cancellations are fully refunded too, so book early in your stay and keep a spare day.

Highlights

• Landing on the Tasman Glacier, across the Main Divide
• Engine shut down on the snow for a quiet stop
• La Perouse, Balfour, Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on one loop
• Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman along the route
• Native rainforest on the climb out and the return
• Small group, six passengers at most

What's Included

• ✓ Safety briefing
• ✓ Scenic helicopter flight of about one hour
• ✓ Glacier landing on the Tasman Glacier (weather permitting)
• ✓ Departure and return at the Franz Josef heliport, 69 Cron Street
• ✓ Full refund for weather cancellations

Not Included

• Food and drinks
• Hotel pickup and drop-off

What to Bring

• Warm layers (long pants and a light sweater or jacket)
• Sunglasses for the snow glare
• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
• Camera

Good to Know & Caveats

• INFLITE emails you after booking to confirm the exact date and time, which may differ from your request. If you cannot make the new time, you get a full refund.
• Weather cancellations are fully refunded, or you can take a new time. GetYourGuide's free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before.
• INFLITE's passenger weight limit is 116 kg. If the group's combined weight reaches the aircraft's safety limit, the flight may be rescheduled, with the option to cancel for a full refund.
• Seats cannot be chosen in advance; INFLITE assigns them on the day by passenger weight.
• Few reviews so far: 13, averaging 4.3.

Meeting Point

Check in at INFLITE's Franz Josef heliport, 69 Cron Street, Franz Josef township, even though GetYourGuide lists the flight under Fox Glacier.