Franz Josef Glacier Guides

Rates: Half Day Tour Adults NZ$120 Children NZ$60

Half day Glacier Trip
Trips leave throughout the day. After being fitted out with boots, a 10 minute bus ride takes you to within 3 km of the glacier.

After a short walk through regenerating rainforest, the trip continues along the glacier valley, with your guide calling stops to explain about the unique features of the Franz Josef Glacier and the surrounding environment.The terrain can look daunting, but the guides have created extensive trails and together with the Ice Talonz on your feet allowing you to go further and see more in comfort.

After strapping on a set of Ice Talonz you make your way up the terminal face of the glacier, where pre-formed access ways make exploring the lower reaches of the glacier achievable for most agile people.).
Gore-Tex raincoat and waterproof overtrousers, NZ wool socks, thermal hat and gloves, trekking pole are also supplied. You need to bring two warm upper body layers, lightweight trousers, a light snack and small drink bottle. Suitable for school age children.

Full Day Glacier Adventure
The trip is the same as the Glacier Experience until you leave the main trail behind and disappear into the first ice fall, a maze of crevasses and seracs where the adventure truly begins.

The scenery is spectacular and with a total of five hours on the ice you could find yourself in all manner of situations, from squeezing through tight blue crevasses to "Franz Shuffling" down near vertical walls of ice.

Gaining confidence as you go, your guide will take you through some of the most stunning and challenging terrain imaginable. The Ice Talonz on your feet and the excellent step cutting skills of your guide are what make this trip the best.

Suitable for most people with a reasonable level of fitness and a sense of humour, this trip will satisfy even the most adventurous amongst us.

Heli Hike
An exciting scenic flight over all three icefalls of the Franz Josef Glacier is taken with The Helicopter Line. Landing high up on the glacier, you undertake a two hour guided trip amongst some of the most beautiful terrain available.

Your guide chooses the route as you go and with an eye for the most spectacular ice formations you’ll soon be making your way through a wonderland of towering pinnacles and brilliantly blue ice.

The panoramic views of the glacier and surrounding mountains are supreme. With plenty of opportunities for the perfect photograph and the chance to learn more about glaciers, this will almost certainly be one of your most memorable experiences in New Zealand. Suitable for children from 10 years.