There’s nothing like experiencing the beauty of the Southern Alps from a snowfield nestled in its grandeur. Glittering towers of ice, pure snow, and the raw, untouched view of the surrounding landscape. That’s exactly what you get when you opt for our glacier helicopter landing tours.

At True South Flights, we fly hundreds of visitors to these glaciers every year. No trip to the South Island is complete without a helicopter landing on one of New Zealand’s most iconic natural phenomena. 

Read on to learn more about Aoraki National Park’s Glaciers and the special tours we offer to get you to the top.

Aoraki National Park’s Glaciers

Glaciers are slow-moving walls of ice formed over many centuries. Snow and rain are slowly compressed over many years into ice sheets, then are pulled by gravity to drift down mountainous slopes, thus creating glaciers. Though they are technically moving, some glaciers represent an incredibly unique opportunity for tourists: to walk through the Alps on the back of centuries of naturally-formed ice.

New Zealand’s South Island is home to many glaciers, with over 3000 small ones occupying the National Park around Mount Cook alone. But two in particular are too beautiful to miss.

Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier is one of Aotearoa’s most famous glaciers. It’s particularly unique thanks to its rapid descent from high to low elevation, allowing visitors to easily traverse its slopes for guided exploration.

Tasman Glacier

This is the longest glacier in New Zealand, stretching over twenty-three kilometres before terminating in the Tasman Lake. Thanks to its long, slow-moving nature, this is another ideal spot to experience the majesty of the Southern Alps.

Three Ways to Experience a Glacier

At True South Flights, we offer three different ways to enjoy a helicopter landing on one of the Aoraki National Park glaciers. You can choose from three different levels, depending on your budget, the amount of time you have, and how comfortable you are in the snow.

No matter which option you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy a stunning scenic flight in a fixed-wing aircraft from Queenstown Airport, followed by a brief helicopter ride to experience your chosen glacier. There’s nothing more beautiful than the view of the Southern Alps from the air (except, possibly, for the view from the glacier itself).

Helicopter Landing

First up, one of our most popular packages: the helicopter landing. Once you hit Queenstown Airport, we’ll fly you up the main spine of the Southern Alps toward the glacier of your choice. Along the way, you’ll see the spanning beauty of Lake Wanaka, along with the stunning small glaciers dotting the landscape below.

As you go, you’ll receive an interesting and informative tour from our experienced pilot. From there, we’ll touch down near the glacier, escorting you to your helicopter tour. A short helicopter ride, and you’ll be touching down! Time to disembark onto one of the snowfields, play in the snow, and take some photos of this unforgettable experience.

Helicopter Hikes

Looking to get up close and personal with a glacier? Walk through stunning ice caves, pass beautiful formations, and walk across one of the world’s natural wonders with a guide leading the way.

These hikes are the perfect way to experience a glacier if you’re not content with only landing on the ice. Requiring moderate fitness, this guided experience will take you as close to the Tasman or Franz Josef glacier as you can get.

When you book with True South Flights, we offer as much flexibility as possible. The weather in this region is changeable, meaning we sometimes need to re-route you to a different side of the mountain so you can have the best possible experience.

Helicopter Skiing

Ski the longest runs in Aotearoa on pristine snow thanks to our ‘Ski the Tasman’ package. This is ideal for both novice and experienced skiing enthusiasts, offering stunning landscapes and panoramic views on the way to the fields.

The snow is buttery and generally untrodden, making it a fantastic base for snow sports. Take turns down the 8 to 10-kilometre ski runs and be back in Queenstown just in time for dinner. Our guide partners are friendly and knowledgeable, allowing you to bring your ski equipment along with you or hire it before you hit the slopes.

No matter which option you choose, one thing is for sure: this experience will stay with you. Ready to make your trip to the South Island the trip of a lifetime?

See New Zealand from a whole new vantage point with True South Flights.

Book your helicopter landing today! We offer a variety of specials on tour packages so you can decide what level of experience you’d like to enjoy, and we offer the best prices.

Not sure which trip is right for you, or have questions? Get in touch with the team at True South Flights, and we can help.