Is Franz Josef Glacier Worth It?
Yes — one of the top glacier experiences in the Southern Hemisphere.
Franz Josef is the more famous of New Zealands two main glaciers, and for good reason. The terminal face is accessible from the road, there are excellent guided walks, and the helicopter option is spectacular. The town is more established than Fox with better infrastructure. It is a genuinely special place.
Anyone visiting New Zealands West Coast who wants the complete glacier experience.
You are only going to be in the region briefly and cannot do both — then consider Fox for the uncrowded experience.
Franz Josef Glacier Tours — New Zealand
A 12km river of ice descending through temperate rainforest to near sea level. The heli-hike is New Zealand's most iconic glacier experience — and one of the world's great premium adventure activities.
Franz Josef Glacier (Waiau) is on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, 40 minutes from Fox Glacier. What makes it remarkable is the combination: the glacier terminates in a valley surrounded by lush rainforest, with the Southern Alps as a constant backdrop. In Iceland, you get black sand and ocean. Here, you get green and white against granite peaks. Very different aesthetic.
The signature experience is the heli-hike — a helicopter flight to a remote part of the glacier that's inaccessible from the ground, followed by a guided walk on the ice. At $552 per person, it's not cheap. But it's consistently rated as a once-in-a-lifetime experience by people who've done it.
Why Franz Josef is Different from Iceland's Glaciers
- Terminates in rainforest: The glacier face is surrounded by temperate greenery, not volcanic desert. The visual contrast between ice and green is unique.
- Helicopter access: Unlike Iceland's glacier hikes which you walk to, the heli-hike uses a helicopter to access remote glacier terrain. This makes the experience fundamentally different.
- Alpine backdrop: Mount Cook (Aoraki) and the Southern Alps provide a mountain backdrop in every direction. In Iceland the horizon is ocean and volcanic plain.
- Year-round accessibility: Unlike some Iceland glaciers affected by volcanic activity, Franz Josef runs year-round with consistent tour operations.
- Combined with Fox: Fox Glacier is 40 minutes away — you can do both in one trip, which isn't really possible in Iceland's spread-out glacier sites.
What to Expect on the Franz Josef Heli-Hike
The heli-hike is the signature product and it is worth doing properly. You arrive at the base operation, kitted out with waterproof boots, gaiters, and a helmet. The helicopter departure is from the town airfield — a short flight over the lower valley reveals the glacier from an angle you cannot access from the ground. The landing zone is on the upper glacier, typically around 1,200 metres elevation.
The guided walk on the ice runs about 1.5 hours. Your guide reads the surface for safety — avoiding the softer suncups and monitoring crevasse edges — while explaining the glacier's movement and the geology of the valley. The colour of the ice is what surprises most people: deep blue-white rather than the white you see in photos, created by centuries of compressed snow eliminating air bubbles.
The helicopter flight back completes the experience — the aerial view of the valley from 1,200 metres, looking down the full 12km of the glacier to where it meets the rainforest, is a different perspective entirely. Weather in the West Coast changes daily; tours operate when conditions allow, and operators will shift departure times to catch windows of good weather. If weather cancels your booking, rebooking for the next available slot is typically free.
The Four Ways to Experience Franz Josef
🦅 Heli-Hike
The signature experienceHelicopter flight to remote glacier terrain, 1.5–2 hour guided walk on the ice. The top way to experience the glacier's interior — untouched, pristine, crevasse fields and blue ice. This is the one to save for if you're only doing one thing.
🚁 Helicopter Scenic Flight
Snow landing included25-minute flight with snow landing. No extended hike — you land on the glacier, spend ~10 minutes on the ice, then fly back. Good for views-focused visitors who want the helicopter experience without the physical commitment of a heli-hike.
👣 Valley Walk
No helicopter neededWalk to the glacier face from the terminal. The track leads through forest to the lateral moraine, with views of the glacier from below. No helicopter, no technical gear. Best for budget-conscious visitors or those with limited time.
🚁 Twin Glacier Helicopter
See two glaciers in one flight35-minute helicopter flight landing on both Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. The most comprehensive aerial view of the Westland glacier system. Lands on both glaciers — two different environments in one flight.
Franz Josef vs Iceland — Which Should You Choose?
| Factor | Franz Josef, NZ | Iceland Glaciers |
|---|---|---|
| Signature experience | Heli-hike — remote glacier access by helicopter | Ice cave or glacier hike — walk to the glacier, walk on the glacier |
| Scenery | Alpine mountains + rainforest + glacier | Volcanic plains + black sand + ocean + glacier |
| Starting price (day tour) | ~$66 (valley walk) to $552 (heli-hike) | ~$89–$299 for glacier hike or ice cave |
| Best for | Premium once-in-a-lifetime, alpine scenery, helicopter access | Value, variety, accessibility from Reykjavík |
| Combined with | Fox Glacier (40 min away) | Jökulsárlón + Katla + Sólheimajökull (all on South Coast) |
Still deciding? Read the full Iceland vs New Zealand comparison →
All Franz Josef Tours on Viator
Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike
The iconic experience — helicopter to remote glacier terrain, 1.5-2hr guided walk. Premium product, consistently rated exceptional.
Small Group Bespoke Heli Hike Adventure with Lunch
Smaller group, all-inclusive with lunch. Top-tier option for those who want the top possible heli-hike experience.
Franz Josef Glacier 25-Minute Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing
Aerial views of the glacier system, 10 min snow landing on the glacier, then return. Good middle ground between a scenic flight and the full heli-hike.
Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk (2 Hour Tour)
Walk to the glacier terminal moraine through rainforest. No helicopter — just you, the forest, and the glacier at the end. Most affordable glacier option.
Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight (35 min) from Franz Josef
Land on both Franz Josef and Fox glaciers in one flight. The most complete view of the West Coast glacier system. Flies from Franz, lands on both.
Mount Cook Spectacular Helicopter Flight from Franz Josef
40-minute flight including Mount Cook (Aoraki) and the main divide. Snow landing on the Tasman Glacier side. For those who want the full alpine experience.
Franz Josef — Common Questions
Is the heli-hike worth the cost ($552)?
Yes — if you can afford it and you're physically comfortable with a 1.5-2 hour hike on uneven ice. The helicopter access to untouched terrain is genuinely different from walking to a glacier face. That said, the valley walk at $66 is genuinely good for what it is. It's not a consolation prize — it's a different, valid experience.
How do I get from Queenstown to Franz Josef?
3.5 hours by car on State Highway 6 through the mountains. You'll pass lakes Wanaka and Hawea. Many tours offer transport from Queenstown as part of a multi-day West Coast tour. There are also small-group transfers from Queenstown and Christchurch.
Can I do Franz Josef and Fox in one day?
Yes — they're 40 minutes apart by road. A typical itinerary would be Fox in the morning (better light), then Franz Josef in the afternoon. Or do a helicopter flight from Franz that visits both glaciers from the air.
What's the weather like? Will my tour be cancelled?
West Coast weather is notoriously variable — rain is common even in summer. Helicopter tours can be cancelled or delayed due to weather. If you're doing a heli-hike, build a buffer day into your itinerary. The tour operator will rebook or refund if cancelled due to weather.
Is it suitable for children?
Valley walks are fine for children old enough to walk the track (roughly 8+). Heli-hikes typically have minimum ages of 8-10 and require an adult to accompany minors. Check specific tour restrictions. The helicopter flight with snow landing can be done by children as young as 2 in some operators' policies.
Written by Sven Lindqvist — adventure and landscape photographer; Nordic travel specialist. Eight seasons on Iceland's Vatnajökull and New Zealand's Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. Last reviewed May 2026.