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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
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.
Cornelia Ott from Austria wrote on 11 February 2023
Worth seeing
Highlights were the helicopter flights, walking on the Glacier seeing beautiful carcasses and being witness of rockslides ... altogether a very recommendable experience with professional and nice guides!
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
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
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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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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!