Franz Josef glacier tours for groups now mean a helicopter. Franz Josef and Fox are two glaciers about half an hour apart on New Zealand's West Coast. The only way onto the ice is a guided heli-hike or a scenic flight with a snow landing, and flights stop in low cloud. Explera DMC New Zealand covers the detail in its Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers planning guide. These are the points for agents who sell several destinations.
What Clients Can Do at the Glaciers
Both glaciers have retreated a long way. The Department of Conservation (DOC) says helicopters are now the only safe way to take people onto the glacier for guided walks. Clients who walked to the ice on an earlier trip should hear this before they book.
- Heli-hikes. A short flight onto the ice, then a few hours of guided walking with boots and crampons supplied.
- Scenic flights. Helicopter or small-plane flights over the snowfields, often with a snow landing, for clients who cannot walk far.
- Valley walks. Free tracks to viewpoints of the ice from below. The Fox Glacier valley road has been closed since a large landslide in 2019, so Fox is seen from a rainforest walk on the other side of the river.
DOC has also trialled paid parking at the Franz Josef glacier car park, so we confirm parking at quotation.
Weather Is the Planning Rule
The West Coast is one of the wettest parts of New Zealand, and flights are often cancelled at short notice. For groups we plan two nights, book the flight for the first morning and keep the second as the back-up. Operators set their own cancellation terms, and we confirm them at quotation. Heli-hikes also have weight, fitness and age requirements, which we check for each client.
Where It Fits on a Longer Trip
The glaciers sit on State Highway 6. Groups arrive from the north after the TranzAlpine train or the drive over Arthur's Pass from Christchurch, or from the south over the Haast Pass from Wānaka or Queenstown. Both are long days with few towns between stops.
For clients who want ice and mountains on the same holiday as Asia, a South Island leg pairs well with a stopover. Our note on Hobbiton and Waitomo for tour groups covers the North Island side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can clients still walk onto Franz Josef or Fox Glacier?
Not on foot. DOC says helicopters are the only safe way to take people onto the glacier for guided walks.
How many nights should a group plan at the glaciers?
Two nights, so a flight cancelled by weather can move to the next morning.
How do groups reach the glaciers?
By State Highway 6, from Hokitika in the north or over the Haast Pass from Wānaka or Queenstown in the south.
Where Explera Fits
We plan multi-destination programmes across our destinations: Thailand, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.
Write to b2b@expleradmc.com or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341).
