Air Transport

Promo code RANKERS - good deal done!

Franz Josef Heli Hike

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

4.3 31 reviews

Franz and Fox Helicopters

Promo code RANKERS. Save 10%

The Best Way to See a Glacier (While You Still Can)

The Franz and Fox area is one of only three spots in NZ I'd genuinely say a scenic flight is worth the top-dollar spend. What makes it different from somewhere like Mt Cook is the drama of steep peaks in tight confines - it's intense, close-up, and unlike anything else. And there's a real edge to it that I think about more and more: we've probably got 5-10 years left where you can still land on a glacier within a rainforest setting. That's genuinely rare on a global scale. I'd lap this up while it's still possible.

For my money, a heli-hike is the move - you get the flight AND time walking on the ice, which is something else entirely. If you're just after the scenic flight experience, helicopter flights run from both Franz Josef and Fox villages, and the operators here know their stuff. The key thing with any of these is don't book too far ahead - weather calls the shots on the West Coast and you want a clear day. The promo code RANKERS gets you 10% off heli-hikes and scenic flights out of Franz and Fox, which takes a decent chunk off what is admittedly a sizeable outlay.

Mountain views clear out early morning and late in the day once the heat thermals settle down - same logic applies to your flight. If you get the timing right and the weather plays ball, this is the kind of thing people are still talking about years later.