New Zealand · GLACIER HIKES & HELI-HIKES
Good glacier hikes & heli-hikes tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Review of the Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike, with helicopter views, a guided ice walk, gear details, fitness advice, weather risks, and value tips.
“A decent level of fitness is definitely needed, be aware can be cancelled up to the last minute if weather changes, they do however offer a full refund or change day. Staff are amazing and extremely well trained. We had Sarah as our guide who was superb.”
Fly over Fox Glacier, then hike its changing ice caves, arches, and crevasses with expert guides on this memorable four-hour adventure.
“Absolutely brilliant experience and company. I had guide Charlie who was fantastic. I made a booking error (totally my fault) and they fixed it up for me no dramas. 10/ 10 recommend .”
Fly from Franz Josef to a changing ice world, then hike crevasses and caves on a guided 2.5-hour glacier adventure.
“We hiked a glacier in Alaska and it was mainly a flat hike. This experience was totally different and provided us a completely unique experience. It was up and down, we went through two tight crevasses and an ice cave! We had to use ropes and even a ladder at one point. You definitely need to be fairly fit. We loved the experience from the training, helicopter ride and guided hiking. This is a must do for those who want a unique and challenging experience. Even though we had to unfortunately cut the hike short due to weather, we still had more than sufficient time on the hike and appreciated…”
Fly from Mount Cook Airport to the Tasman Glacier for a guided two-hour ice hike beneath Aoraki and Mount Tasman.
“It was our first helicopter ride and it was an amazing and unforgettable experience. We felt really safe during the hike. Max, the guide was fun and caring. The hike as such could have been longer tho.”
Fly over Aoraki/Mount Cook, land on Tasman Glacier, and hike through blue ice with a guide, gear, and two scenic helicopter flights.
“Had so much fun with the crew, instructor is professional also. The experience is fresh. We were so lucky because of the weather permit. Such a good place to take photos and show off to your friends, although it’s a little expensive but definitely worth doing it . Add something different and adventurous to your trip.”
Ride from Queenstown to Tasman Glacier by plane and helicopter, then hike through blue ice caves with guides, crampons, and mountain views.
“The photos speak for them selves Definitely a must do while in the South Island of New Zealand. A special thanks to plane pilot and helicopter pilot for sharing their knowledge of the landscape along the way.”
Review of the Mt Cook heli hike from Queenstown, with glacier flights, guided stops, costs, weather risks, gear, and practical booking advice.
“The driver and the tour guide, "Plate" (the sound of his name) was trying to create a positive atmosphere for this Mt Cook tour on a cold and rainy day (5th April, 2023) He's knowledgeable and introduced related background information about the things we saw along the route to Mt Cook. The cafe in Omarama that we stopped for a break was fantastic and we had a lovely hot chocolate and sandwiches for morning tea there. (much better than another cafe in Omarama which is chosen by InterCity) He also kept us up-to-dated to the weather condition that might affect our helicopter flight to glacier (was cancelled due to the…”
Review of the Glentanner High Country Heli Hike, with an 8-minute flight, 7km walk, Mount Cook views, costs, tips, and practical advice.
“We booked the morning tour but the weather was not too good. Our guide Brian suggested us postpone it to the afternoon that the weather was so nice to have our hiking. Brian was very good and shared a lot of interesting information with us. We had a wonderful afternoon with him and the experience was so amazing. Really appreciated!!”
Hike the Tasman Glacier, fly around Aoraki/Mt Cook, see Lake Pukaki, and enjoy a guided Queenstown day trip with local food stops.
Fly over Aoraki Mount Cook, land on Tasman Glacier, and hike its ice formations with crampons, boots, poles, and expert guidance.
“Awesome experience! Definitely 5 stars! Our guide Emma is helpful and friendly. She told us how the cave and the glacier shape were formed, and also helped us taking some great photos.”
Review of the Kepler Track heli hike from Te Anau, with a helicopter ride, alpine walking, beech forest, and water taxi return.
“It was great to see a DOC hut, and the hike down to the lake was easy and beautiful! A good way to see the landscape without having to hike up the mountain!”
Fly from Queenstown to Franz Josef, land by helicopter, and hike across glacial ice with a guide on this full-day South Island adventure.
“Amazing trip. View was amazing on the plane to Franz Josef. Lily is an amazing pilot. Glacier hike was an a great experience. Sarah is great guide and I felt safe the whole time”
Fly over Lake Te Anau, land near Luxmore Hut, hike the Kepler Track, and return by water taxi on this compact Fiordland adventure.
“Great communication, great pilot, great views and a lot of fun. Highly recommended. I can't say enough great things about how well the company is run and how much we enjoyed the day.”
Fly to Mount Luxmore, hike New Zealand’s Kepler Track through alpine fields and beech forest, then cruise Lake Te Anau by water taxi.
“Our Hostess Michelle was AMAZING! Her knowledge and love of the earth made every moment a gift, and her passion was magical!!!! Truly a shining moment in our lives that spanned continents and generations, a memory to last a lifetime!”
Fly over the Southern Alps, hike 7km on private Glentanner Station land, and visit a restored field hut near Aoraki Mount Cook.
“What a fantastic tour! The scenery was stunning, and our guide, Brian, was exceptional! He was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything to us. We were very lucky to have learned so much from this tour. The other family who joined the tour were also wonderful people, making the experience even more enjoyable!”
Pick an island, a lake or a cave.
