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Fox Glacier, no, not the hard boiled sweet, the BIG icy thing on the South Island of New Zealand. Yeah, you know the one? Well, I went there in March and was lucky enough to be given a complimentary helicopter flight by Glacier helicopters. So, how was it? Honestly, it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done, and I’m not just saying that because I didn’t pay for it.
In case you were thinking of taking a helicopter flight up Fox Glacier yourself, here’s what to expect (You can keep scrolling if you just want to skip to all the pretty pictures)!
What’s it Like?
Ok, so there’s a Glacier Helicopters office in Fox Glacier town (you can’t miss it). I went in on the morning I wanted to fly and booked a trip for that afternoon. If you like to be organised or have a specific time that you need to fly, you should probably do this a bit earlier by contacting them online, here. You pay when you return to the office for check in.
At check in you get weighed (not ideal if you’re like me and you’ve put on holiday weight!). BUT it’s important for your safety etc. Speaking of safety, you are then given a quick safety talk before being driven to the helipad.
If at all possible, I recommend getting a window seat if you can. Even better would be the seat up front beside the pilot. Our pilot was called Taz, which I thought was pretty coincidental because it’s also my nickname.
The Flight
During the flight up to the glacier you’ll see INCREDIBLE views of the surrounding area. If you’re a photography buff, you’ll be living the dream. After a few minutes it’s time to land on Fox Glacier. This is a great photo opp and it’s pretty cool to be able to say you’ve walked on a glacier.
You’ll be up there for about 10/15 minutes. Have a snow ball fight. Your pilot will also take a photo of you and print it out fairly instantly. You can purchase this photo for $20. It comes in one of those cute souvenir card frames. Then, sadly, it’s time to head back down.
BUT it’s not over yet. The flight down is when the views are at their most spectacular. Don’t believe me? Have a look for yourself.
Photo Evidence
So there you have it. That’s what it’s like to fly over Fox Glacier in a helicopter. An incredible experience, and well worth the money (Me and my boyfriend split his fare). For more information on the different flights available, check out Glacier Helicopter’s website.
**Glacier Helicopters provided me with a free flight to Fox Glacier. However, the opinions expressed in this post are, as always, my own.
