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The West Coast Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!tune
Flying Fox - Heli Hike - Fox Glacier Guiding
The ultimate way to experience one of New Zealand’s most renowned glacial attractions!
Highlights
- Voted #1 in the Tripadvisors Travellers’ Choice and Top Out of the Ordinary Experiences- World! (Best of the Best awards 2021)
- Walk on the Fox Glacier combined with the thrill of helicopter flights
- Discover Victoria Falls & a range of ever changing ice features
- A true voyage of exploration - each trip is unique!
This popular and spectacular fly-in, fly-out Flying Fox gives you the once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal to the remarkable beauty of the Fox Glacier, by helicopter and on foot!
You'll be equipped with leather walking boots and other equipment then transferred by helicopter onto the largest and less crowded West Coast glacier, giving you access to explore a remote area where the dynamics of the glacier often create stunning ice arches and caves. You will also see the Victoria falls which is the melt water from the Victoria glacier hidden high in the mountains.
Join us for an experience of a lifetime. Our heli hike is voted the best “out of the ordinary” experience in the world - book with us to find out why!
Authenticated Reviews & Photos All of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 47 authenticated Bookme reviews
eloised from New Zealand wrote on 03 July 2022
Go for it!
Amazing first experience on a glacier with great guides! Smile and fun during the whole experience :) Fox Glacier guiding you are the best!
Edward Bidzinski from Australia wrote on 12 March 2023
Fantastic experience
Very professional team from the front counter staff to our excellent glacier guide "Stretch". Weather plays a huge part in this experience and the team clearly communicate and manage the ever changing scenarios.
fabior3 from France wrote on 29 August 2022
More than disappointing
Don't expect to see the caves of the prospectus, first because with global warming they have disappeared and then because in 4 hours you will only do between one and two kilometers! Indeed, the guide spends his time using his ice axe to make steps that supposedly ensure safety. Having been on this type of terrain several times, taking 16 people at a time with only one guide and one assistant and not providing them with an ice axe or helmet seems to me to be much more risky in terms of safety. Finally, when I hear these same guides say that in high season they manage 100 people per day, it confirms to me that I am not with a company that respects the environment and its clients. Definitely, this tour does not deserve the price paid nor its ranking on TripAdvisor More than disappointing. Don't expect to see the caves of the prospectus, first because with global warming they have disappeared and then because in 4 hours you will only do between one and two kilometers! Indeed, the guide spends his time using his ice axe to make steps that supposedly ensure safety. Having been on this type of terrain several times, taking 16 people at a time with only one guide and one assistant and not providing them with an ice axe or helmet seems to me to be much more risky in terms of safety. Finally, when I hear these same guides say that in high season they manage 100 people per day, it confirms to me that I am not with a company that respects the environment and its clients. Definitely, this tour does not deserve the price paid nor its ranking on Tripadvidor
From Flying Fox - Heli Hike - Fox Glacier Guiding
Hi and we are sorry to hear that your recent experience with us did not meet your expectations. You are quite correct that the guide cuts step for the groups safety which is important for everyone. Our guide ratio is 1 to 11 customers, and we always adhere to this as it’s a requirement for our operating safety certificate. The Heli Hike does not require the use of helmets or ice axes by customers as the guide will only take the group to safe locations on the glacier. As the glacier is a dynamic continually changing environment ice features are constantly changing so we always try our best to access safe ice features. We are a Carbon Positive business operation through Ekos NZ. This accreditation was recently achieved and we will soon be placing more information about this on our website. We appreciate the time you have taken to share your comments with us. Rob & the team at Fox Glacier Guiding
arne from Belgium wrote on 13 October 2022
READ BEFORE BOOKING
Last year we did a gletsjer hike in Iceland. It was so much fun, so we decided to book this one in New-Zealand as it combined a helicopter trip with gletsjer hike. It has a very high price tag so we had very high expectations. So first of all, the helicopter is not up to the mountain, but at the end of the gletsjer where the ice starts. Total flight time 1m25 seconds lolz. Than the hike. It was so disappointing. You get crampons, but the guides than tell you these crampons are only made for walking on flat terrain, not for steep terrain, so they are continuously making steps in the ice. It's like a waiting game, wait 5 minutes, do 5 steps, wait 5 minutes, do 5 steps. Our group was small, only 6 people, imagine being with 20. We have been on the gletsjer for 1h45 minutes. 45 minutes handling with the gear and waiting on the helicopter. One hour of hiking. Total hike is so short, i think maybe 400 metres. You also only go like 30 metres higher than start. Our hike in Iceland was 1000 times better and more challenging and only 1/3rd the price. this hike is like walking a prepared hiking path with a pause every 30 seconds. We did canyoning, rafting, kayaking, all lots cheaper than this activity. And 100 times more worth it. So my advice don't spend any money on the heli hike, not worth the money at all. Go for a decent helicopter flight, it's a lot more worth the money.
From Flying Fox - Heli Hike - Fox Glacier Guiding
Thank you for your review, We are sorry to hear that our Flying Fox: Heli Hike did not meet your expectations. The Fox Glacier and our heli hike location is at 900 metres which is the central and safest part of the glacier as the terminal (or end that you have mentioned) is simply unguidable and not possible. While it might have felt like a shorter helicopter trip the actual helicopter transfer flight time is approximately 6 minutes each way. The guide cuts steps for the safety of the whole group and the amount are dependent on how firm the ice conditions are on any given day and is an important part of the experience of exploring the glacier. Thank you again for the feedback and we hope you enjoyed your holiday. The Fox Glacier Guiding team
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Qualmark Certification
This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.
When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.
This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.
This award identifies a business with a high level of professionalism, a keen awareness of the impact it has on the environment and a commitment to a customer centric approach.
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KIYOUNG from South Korea wrote on 04 September 2017
해볼만 합니다
가격 : 좀 비싸지만 비행기항공료보다는 싸죠 ㅎㅎ 서비스 : 존이랑 줄리아가 설명을 잘해주었습니다. 한국말은 잘 못하지만.. 헬기 : 처음타보는 건데 좀 어질어질합니다. 빙하탐험 : 존이랑 줄리아가 설명을 잘해주었고 위험한 지역인지 직접 점검을 하여 안전한 곳으로만 안내해주었습니다. 한 1-2시간은 빙하산 위를 다녔네요. 얼음위를 걷는지 눈산을 걷는지 헷갈립니다. 한국에서는 접할수 없는 것이니 해보세요. 기타 : 모든 스태프들이 안전한 여행이 되길 노력하는 모습이 좋았습니다. 저는 3번째에 헬기하이크를 했습니다. 첫날은 비가 많이 와서 트랙킹으로 비 맞으면서 빙하끝만 보고 내려왔습니다. 2째날도 비가와서 데카포를 갔다가 3번째 날에 간신히 헬기 하이크를 했습니다. 이젠 기회가 된다면 맨 꼭대기에 가고보 싶습니다. 존이 1명의 가이드에 2명이서 꼭대기 빙하투어가 가능했다고 들은거 같네요. 필수용품 : 선글라스는 필수입니다. 왜냐하면 눈때문에 눈이 부십니다. 제공해주는 파란색 고무옷과 안전화는 착용하세요. 빙하위를 다니기 때문에 옷버립니다. 간식은 미제공이니 가져가시면 좋을듯합니다. 조셉이랑 폭스랑 북미에서 비교해보았으나 헬기하이크는 폭스가 더 시간이 많이 할애될겁니다. 비교해보세요. 끝으로 모두 즐겁고 안전한 헬기 하이크가 되었으면 합니다.