Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike

Amy
Feb 27, 2019
1 min read

Updated: Jul 14, 2019

FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER HELI HIKE

25th - 27th February 2019

We started off having a massive breakfast after the party at Lake Mahinapua on the morning of the 25th which was one of the best things ever...

This set us up really well for the day before we went to Pancake Rocks on our way to Franz Josef. There was a seal colony there with lots of pups that we saw.

We arrived at Franz Josef later that day and decided to do some glamping for the nights we were there. Although they were very cute and we still had proper beds, we were absolutely freezing during the night and wore hats, along with several duvets to keep warm. Little did we know that the weather would be so much cooler in the South Island.

The next morning was our well anticipated heli hike up the Franz Josef Galcier. We got kitted up in our hiking gear which was very flattering indeed.

We went up to the glacier on a helicopter which was such an awesome experience. Since 2012 people are not able to walk up due to the glacier retreating so everyone goes up in helicopters. Franz Josef Glaier is a 7.5 mile long stretch of ice in Westland Tai Poutini National Park located on the West Coast of the South Island.