HELISERVICES NZ Fox & Franz — Attraction in South Island

Whilst it's a stunning experience, I would recommend to book with one of the numerous other operators.

The weather was bad in the morning, and we were asked if we were open to delay. Yes, we can hang around for a few hours. We were also asked what direction we were heading after this, presumably so that they could service us at another heliport should the weather not clear. All good so far. Another group was waiting for the single glacier tour. We waited around for the weather to clear for about 10 minutes, then were instructed on to the helicopter before it had even cleared. We got on with the other group who only paid for the single glacier tour. We skipped Franz Josef Glacier, as it wasn't yet clear. I assumed we were going to do an anti-clockwise circuit instead. We arrived and landed near Fox Glacier. It was an amazing experience. But the fog hadn't yet cleared over the alps, including Franz Josef, so we had to detour over rural farms back to base due to weather.

When we got back to base, and I was assuming that we'd be doing Franz Josef on a separate trip due to the weather. No. That's it. You're done. They told us that you were gone for 30 minutes, so that's what you get. They tried to tell us that we saw something else instead, but that wasn't the case, and wasn't what we were paying for. Also, I don't want to have an argument, just a good holiday, so I left.

It's advertised as "Twin Glacier Franz and Fox with snow landing", and that's what I expected It would be a different story if it was advertised as "Gone for 30 minutes in a helicopter". If we were only getting Fox Glacier, I would've either chosen the cheaper flight, or not gone at all on that day. They were not willing to do anything at all to make it right. Not even "sorry". All I got was crossed arms, and "you were lucky you even got Fox Glacier". This is why I'd recommend to choose another operator so that you're not left with a sour taste in your mouth after an...

Our first ever Heli experience and was really excited coming into it!

Whilst there wasn’t clear blue skies which would no doubt have made the views even more stunning, we were lucky to be able to fly up into the glaciers and set foot on them since the weather condition still permits.

👨🏻‍✈️ Dion was our pilot for the trip, he was very professional and had steady hands on both landings - on the glacier and back down at the base.

💺 they were also very fair in assigning the seats, as we had the front row seats on the way there and got rotated to the rear seats (though still with window view) on the way back.

🧊 it was no doubt our first experience on a glacier as well, and was exciting to see our feet sink into the soft ice as we took steps away from the heli to take some shots of the background and the glaciers - there was roughly 10 minutes for us to enjoy the view and to take the photos.

📷 the pilot also helped us took a professional photo with his camera, which was handed out as a souvenir for us to keep at NZD20 - it also entails the history of Franz Josef as a booklet, which makes for an appealing sell

Definitely one of those experience we will forever remember, the flight across the mountains into the glaciers, and stepping foot on...

We booked this helicopter ride as it was a must-do experience to see Fox Glacier, and I arranged it the day before on my iPhone. This was the only company that had the time slot we wanted, and we’re so glad we chose them!

Our group consisted of four adults, and it was my sister’s first time riding in a helicopter, making the experience even more special.

We truly appreciated how accommodating the company was to handicap passengers, as we had one on our flight. They took great care to ensure he was safe, comfortable, and had an excellent view throughout the ride. A big thank you to the ground staff for making sure every passenger had a chance at a window seat, either during takeoff or on the return, allowing us to capture stunning photos.

Our pilot, despite his young age and is the son of the company’s founder, was fantastic—he skillfully guided us over the glacier and mountains, providing breathtaking views. Huge thanks to J. and the entire team for an...