Franz Josef Heli-hike, West Coast

Introduction

Franz Josef Glacier is the focal point of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. It is unusually steep and heavily crevassed and is the world’s fastest flowing commercially guided glacier. This once in a lifetime experience will see you whisked high above the glacier in a helicopter letting you really appreciate the enormity and sheer scale of the ice.

Your pilot will land high up on the glacier where you will begin a guided walk over the ice, seeing glacial pools, crevasses and even blue ice. You will be provided with the necessary equipment to navigate the ice safely and your guide will provide a commentary on the ice, how it was formed and how it is changing throughout the walk.

You do not need any climbing or ice-walking experience to do this guided walk.