"It was my first time in a helicopter and it was brilliant! The views from the flight were stunning, I was able to take some wonderful photos and videos through the windows. We then landed on the snow at the top of the mountain, where I got some more amazing photos of the glacier and special thanks to the pilot for taking photos of us with the helicopter too. A great, unique experience. Highly recommend."
Where to Stay
Where to Stay in Franz Josef
Sleep by the heliports, with a spare night.
From
$223
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.9 / 5 57+ Reviews
- 20-minute flight Duration
- 24 km Franz to Fox
- 2 nights Weather Buffer
- Free Cancellation
Book the 25-Minute Flight
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation — free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
The Experience
A 20-Minute Flight From the Township
Glacier Helicopters checks in on Franz Josef's main road, a short walk from most beds, from $223 per person.
Highlights
- Fly the length of the Franz Josef Glacier inside Westland Tai Poutini National Park
- Rainforest growing to the edge of the ice, seen from above
- Landing on the glacier's upper snowfield, around 6 to 8 minutes on the ground
- Several departure times through the day
- 4.9 from 57 GetYourGuide reviews
What's Included
- 20-minute scenic helicopter flight, landing time included
- Snow landing on the glacier snowfield, weather permitting
- Inflight commentary from your pilot
- Concession fee contributing to conservation and sustainability management
- Choice of departure times through the day
How the Nights Fit Together
Four steps from arriving on the West Coast to flying over the glacier.
Book the flight first
Reserve the 20-minute Glacier Helicopters flight for your first morning in Franz Josef. GetYourGuide gives a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before, so the room can follow.
Sleep in the township
The flight checks in at a central spot in Franz Josef township, on the main road. No operator collects from hotels, so pick a bed you can walk from.
Check in 30 minutes early
Glacier Helicopters makes its final weather call at check-in, half an hour before departure. Bring warm clothes, sturdy closed-toe shoes and sunglasses.
Keep night two free
If cloud cancels the flight, you can reschedule or take a full refund. A second night in the village gives the flight another day to go.
Photo Gallery
Franz Josef Snow Landing Photos
The icefall and the snowfield where the 20-minute flight from the township lands.
Three Places to Stay, Compared
Franz Josef township, Fox Glacier village and Hokitika, matched to where helicopter flights check in.
| Feature | BASE FOR MOST FLIGHTS Franz Josef township | Fox Glacier village | Hokitika |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights that check in here | Most flights, including four filed under Fox Glacier | Fox flights, such as the 25-min snow landing and Fox & Mt Cook | ✗ None |
| Heli-hike check-in | ✓ Franz Josef Glacier Guides | ✓ Fox Glacier Guiding | ✗ None |
| Getting to check-in | Short walk from most beds | Main road through the village | Roughly 1.5 to 2 hours' drive |
| Distance from Franz Josef | In the village | About 24 km, 25 minutes | Roughly 135-150 km north |
| Hotels checked on this page | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Choice of rooms and restaurants | The wider of the two glacier villages | Smaller village, fewer options | A town on the coast |
| Lake Matheson | 30 minutes' drive | 5 minutes' drive | Farther than from Franz Josef |
| Best for | First visits and a two-night stay | Fox departures and Lake Matheson at dawn | A late flight in or an early flight out |
| Book Now |
Also From the Township
More Flights You Can Walk To
Three more trips that check in at Franz Josef, within reach of the hotels below.
MOST-REVIEWED FLIGHTFranz Josef Glacier: Helicopter Flight & Alpine Landing
Glacier Country Helicopters' 25-minute loop over the Franz Josef Glacier with a 10-minute snow or alpine landing, from $223 per person, 4.8 from 696 reviews.
TWIN GLACIERS, 30 MINFranz Josef: Twin Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers Helicopter Trip
HeliServices' 30-minute flight from Franz Josef over the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers with a 10-minute snow landing, from $260 per person, 4.9 from 154 reviews.
HELI-HIKE, UP TO 2.5 HRSFranz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike with Helicopter Transfer
Franz Josef Glacier Guides' heli-hike: a 4-minute helicopter transfer each way and up to 2.5 hours walking on the ice, gear supplied.
Where to Stay
Picking a Base for Your Glacier Flight
Franz Josef township, Fox Glacier village or Hokitika, matched to where your flight checks in.
Stay in Franz Josef township, and book two nights. Most helicopter flights and the Franz Josef Glacier Guides heli-hike check in on the main road through the village or a street off it, and no operator collects from hotels, so a room in the township puts you a short walk from check-in. If your flight or heli-hike leaves from Fox Glacier, sleep in Fox village instead, about 24 km south. Hokitika, with the nearest commercial airport, only makes sense for a late arrival or an early flight out.
Two nights matter because the weather decides whether you fly. No cancellation rate is published, operators make the final call at check-in, and every operator tells you to book your flight for your first day in the area. Franz Josef Glacier Guides asks for at least two days. Book the flight for your first morning, and the second night gives a cancelled flight a second chance.
Franz Josef township
This is the base for most visitors. Glacier Country Helicopters checks in at 10 Main Road, HeliServices at the Alpine Adventure Centre on Main Road, and Franz Josef Glacier Guides and INFLITE on Cron Street. The featured Glacier Helicopters 20-minute flight ($223, 4.9 from 57 reviews) checks in at a central spot in the township. Four flights that GetYourGuide files under Fox Glacier also check in here, so read your meeting point before you book a room.
The trade-off is demand. Glacier Helicopters calls November to March its busiest period and suggests booking flights a month ahead then, and rooms go the same way.
- Chateau Backpackers & Motels: pod beds or private rooms with their own bathroom, two shared kitchens and free parking, with restaurants within 15 minutes’ walk.
- Rainforest Retreat: on Cron Street, with dorms, ensuite rooms and holiday houses (some with a hot tub), plus a spa, sauna and bar.
- Aspen Court Franz Josef: a minute’s walk from Glacier Hot Pools, with kitchenettes, underfloor heating and cafes five minutes away.
- Punga Grove: apartments with a full kitchen and a deck, two minutes’ walk from shops, cafes and tour operators.
- Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier: at 36 Main Road, with private bathrooms and a restaurant on site.
- Legacy Te Waonui Hotel Franz Josef: listed on Booking.com as a five-star rainforest retreat, on Wallace Street, with a restaurant.
Fox Glacier village
Choose Fox if your trip starts there. Glacier Helicopters’ 25-minute Fox Glacier flight, The Helicopter Line’s Fox Glacier and Mount Cook flight and Fox Glacier Guiding’s heli-hike all check in on Fox’s main road. The village is about 25 minutes’ drive from Franz Josef, and Lake Matheson, known for its mirror reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook at dawn and dusk, is five minutes away. Fox is the smaller village, with fewer places to eat and sleep.
- Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park & Motels: heated cabins and motel units with a kitchen or kitchenette and views of Aoraki, five minutes’ drive from Lake Matheson.
- Mt Cook View Motel - Fox Glacier: self-contained units with kitchens, most with a spa bath, facing Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.
- Heartland Hotel Glacier Country: in the middle of Fox Glacier township (the name misleads), with a licensed restaurant and a bar with an open fire.
Staying in one village and flying from the other works, since the drive is short, but leave time for the 30-minute check-in. Our Franz Josef vs Fox Glacier guide compares the two places to fly from.
Hokitika, for late arrivals and early flights
Hokitika has the nearest commercial airport, with daily flights from Christchurch, and sits roughly 1.5 to 2 hours’ drive north of Franz Josef on State Highway 6. No helicopter flight checks in there. Spend a night only if you land late or fly out early, and do not book a flight for the same morning you drive down.
- Beachfront Hotel Hokitika: rooms with private bathrooms, a restaurant and bar, and Hokitika Airport six minutes’ drive away.
Map
The map shows places to stay around Franz Josef township; zoom out to see Fox Glacier.
The three bases side by side
| Area | Flights that check in here | Distance from Franz Josef | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franz Josef township | Most flights, the Franz Josef heli-hike | In the village | First visits, Franz Josef flights, a two-night stay |
| Fox Glacier village | Fox flights, the Fox Glacier Guiding heli-hike | About 24 km, 25 minutes | Fox departures, Lake Matheson at dawn |
| Hokitika | None | Roughly 1.5 to 2 hours north | A late flight in or an early flight out |
Booking tips
- Book the flight before the room. GetYourGuide flights can be cancelled for free up to 24 hours before, and a weather cancellation means a reschedule or a full refund.
- Pick an early departure on your first day. Glacier Helicopters says an early flight has a better chance of flying later the same day if the weather delays it.
- Match your notice to the season. Outside November to March, Glacier Helicopters suggests booking flights about two weeks ahead, and Franz Josef Glacier Guides, which runs all year, describes winter as quieter.
- Do not leave it to the last day. Glacier Helicopters does not take online bookings within 24 hours of departure, so last-minute plans mean a phone call or a visit to the base.
- Drive in the day before. Franz Josef is about 5 hours from Christchurch and around 5 hours of driving from Queenstown, more with stops.
To choose the flight itself, start with the homepage comparison, or go straight to snow landing flights or the heli-hike. Our breakdown of the 20-minute flight has its full rules, and the weather and refunds guide explains what happens on a cloudy day. When you know your dates, check availability.
Guest Reviews
What 20-Minute Flight Passengers Say
4.9/5
from 57 verified GetYourGuide passengers
Ratings and review counts are the operators' live figures on GetYourGuide and Viator and may shift slightly day to day.
"Amazing experience with stunning views. Could take fantastic photos both from the helicopter and also when walking out on the glacier"
"Spectacular and we had a great pilot for only his second flight 😳"
"First time getting in the helicopter and that to look at the snow, it was awesome. Simple process and cheerful staff and pilot."
"Lovely friendly and helpful staff, stunning scenery, worth every penny!"
"Although we didn't get to land because of the cloud, the pilot took us as high as he could and we got many good shots of the glacier. the ground people in the office were always helpful and keeping us informed of the situation."
Read all 57 verified reviews
See All ReviewsBook Your Flight, Then Your Room
The 20-minute Glacier Helicopters flight with a snow landing leaves from Franz Josef township, from $223 per person. Starting from $223 per person.
Check Availability & BookCan't Make These Dates?
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More tours and times nearby. Each listing shows its own cancellation policy.
Where to Stay in Franz Josef: Common Questions
How many nights to book, which village to sleep in, pickups, late arrivals and what to do when the weather cancels your flight.
Two nights is the safe minimum if a helicopter flight or heli-hike is the reason you came. Glacier Country Helicopters says weather reschedules happen regularly, every operator asks you to book for your first day in the area, and Franz Josef Glacier Guides asks for at least two days. Fly on the first morning and the second day is there for a rebooking. Our weather guide explains the rules.
Sleep in the village your flight checks in at. Most flights, including four that GetYourGuide files under Fox Glacier, and the Franz Josef heli-hike check in at Franz Josef, which also has the wider choice of rooms. Stay in Fox if you have booked a Fox departure or the Fox Glacier Guiding heli-hike, or want Lake Matheson at dawn. The villages are about 24 km apart.
No operator offers hotel pickup. In Franz Josef the bases sit on Main Road and Cron Street, a short walk from most accommodation in the township, so you walk to check-in. Arrive 30 minutes before departure (15 minutes for Franz Josef Glacier Guides). Missing check-in can cost you the whole fare at Glacier Country Helicopters.
You can, but it is a poor plan for a flight. Hokitika is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours' drive north, and you would need to arrive in time for a check-in 30 minutes before departure, then drive back if cloud cancels the flight. Use Hokitika for a late arrival or an early flight out, and book the helicopter for a morning when you wake up in Franz Josef or Fox.
Book the flight first, then the room. Glacier Helicopters says November to March is its busiest period and suggests booking flights a month ahead then and about two weeks ahead otherwise, so reserve rooms for those months early as well. GetYourGuide flights can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, which makes it easy to fix the flight date first.
Most township accommodation is a short walk from the bases on Main Road and Cron Street. Punga Grove lists a two-minute walk to shops, cafes and tour operators, the Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier is at 36 Main Road, and Rainforest Retreat is on Cron Street. Glacier Base, where Franz Josef Glacier Guides checks in, is a few minutes' walk from central accommodation.
On GetYourGuide a weather cancellation means a reschedule or a full refund, but a refund will not get you onto the glacier if you are leaving that afternoon. That is why the first morning matters: an early flight has more chance of moving to later the same day, and a second night gives it another full day. Check the flight calendar for your first morning.
Still have questions? Email us at info@franzjosefhelicopterflights.com
Keep Exploring
Explore More
Every flight type, individual flight and planning guide on this site.
Flights by Type
Individual Flights
- Fox Glacier & Mount Cook Helicopter Flight, Snow Landing
- Fox Glacier 25-Minute Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing
- Fox Glacier Heli-Hike: Up to 3 Hours on the Ice
- Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers Helicopter Flight & Snow Landing
- Franz Josef & Fox Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight, 30 Min
- Franz Josef & Tasman Glacier 30-Min Helicopter Flight
- Franz Josef 20-Minute Helicopter Ride with Snow Landing
- Franz Josef 25-Minute Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing
- Franz Josef 3-Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing
- Franz Josef 35-Minute Helicopter Flight over Two Glaciers
- Franz Josef 4-Glacier Helicopter Flight with 2 Landings
- Franz Josef Extended Heli-Hike with Lunch, Small Group
- Franz Josef Glacier 20-Minute Helicopter Flight & Landing
- Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike with Helicopter Transfer
- Franz Josef Grand Circle Flight with Tasman Glacier Landing
Guides
- Best Time of Day for a Franz Josef Helicopter Flight
- Best time of year for a Franz Josef helicopter flight
- Can You See Franz Josef Glacier Without a Helicopter?
- Heli-hike or scenic helicopter flight at Franz Josef?
- Franz Josef Helicopter Flights With Kids: Age, Weight and Seating Rules
- Franz Josef helicopter flight times: 20, 25, 35 or 40 minutes?
- Franz Josef helicopter weather: cancellations, refunds and rebooking
- Franz Josef or Fox Glacier: which village should you fly from?
- Is a Franz Josef helicopter flight worth it?
- Pilot's Choice at Franz Josef: how the flexible route works
- Snow landing vs alpine landing: what is the difference?
- What Happens on a Franz Josef Helicopter Flight, Step by Step
- What to Wear on a Franz Josef Helicopter Flight
- Which Franz Josef Helicopter Flight Should You Book?