TWO GLACIERS, A SNOW LANDING AND THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
10 MAY 2023
That is one happy man!
Is This Really Happening?
Franz Josef is a small town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It's a stunning town in a stunning region that has heavy air traffic with helicopters flying up to the glaciers ALL day. Seriously, from sunrise to sunset, it's a constant drone of helicopters and most of the shops in Franz Josef are helicopter companies. It's easy to see why as the area is truly magnificent and so untouched with beauty of an out of this world scale.
We had only planned to stay one night in Franz Josef as we were heading from Wanaka up to Marlborough and we had always travelled the scenic route north on the east coast, so we decided to head along the West Coast for once. It was only an extra 30-minutes difference so we said why the hell not!
When we woke up on the morning we were going to leave, it was an absolute banger of a day and we decided that we just couldn't leave, despite all of our stuff being packed back into the car (it's no feat with 4 people travelling full time... we have A LOT of stuff!). We drove around looking for some new accommodation and as we were heading along the main road in the town, Lath saw a sign for helicopter rides where the kids go half price. As you probably know, heli flights aren't cheap, so with a deal like that, we could tick off something that's been on Lath's bucket list for a long time! So we decided we definitely, absolutely, no doubt about it are 100% staying another night in Franz Josef!
We booked the flight, bought some sunglasses (pretty important up on the white, white snow), waited till 2pm then went to the checkout counter to get weighed in and have wrist bands put on our wrists (the usual place) and then we had a safety debrief outside the shop before we were walked across to a field nearby.
We were all really excited about the flight - we booked the twin glacier and snow landing flight which flies over the Fox Glacier as well as the Franz Josef Glacier and in between there is a snow landing high above the glacier on the Southern Alps. Lath was pinching himself as he had been dreaming of a flight like this for so long and it was finally happening.
Sienna became a bit quieter as we got to the helicopter, despite her being really excited about going on one! We're not sure if it was the noise of it or how fast they were coming in and taking off (seriously, they can pick up some speed!) but by the time it was time to go on, she wasn't sure! The thing with kids is, the thought of something can be really exciting... they play with helicopter toys and make noises, they see helicopters in things like Paw Patrol and other kids cartoons, but the reality can be a completely different thing. It's really important to talk through steps with kids sometimes because as an adult we know the steps, we know the reality (even if we haven't been on a helicopter before) but a kid often can't quite grasp the concept. We really realised this when we were in the -18deg C storm room at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch and she was crying once the wind started to become really strong and noisy and it went super dark - oops!
It's amazing how quickly the 'turn over' is with the helicopters - once it lands, the passengers get off (grinning from ear to ear!), and while they're disembarking, the helicopter is being refueled and a few minutes later it's time for the next passengers to head on in!
We had only planned to stay one night in Franz Josef as we were heading from Wanaka up to Marlborough and we had always travelled the scenic route north on the east coast, so we decided to head along the West Coast for once. It was only an extra 30-minutes difference so we said why the hell not!
When we woke up on the morning we were going to leave, it was an absolute banger of a day and we decided that we just couldn't leave, despite all of our stuff being packed back into the car (it's no feat with 4 people travelling full time... we have A LOT of stuff!). We drove around looking for some new accommodation and as we were heading along the main road in the town, Lath saw a sign for helicopter rides where the kids go half price. As you probably know, heli flights aren't cheap, so with a deal like that, we could tick off something that's been on Lath's bucket list for a long time! So we decided we definitely, absolutely, no doubt about it are 100% staying another night in Franz Josef!
We booked the flight, bought some sunglasses (pretty important up on the white, white snow), waited till 2pm then went to the checkout counter to get weighed in and have wrist bands put on our wrists (the usual place) and then we had a safety debrief outside the shop before we were walked across to a field nearby.
We were all really excited about the flight - we booked the twin glacier and snow landing flight which flies over the Fox Glacier as well as the Franz Josef Glacier and in between there is a snow landing high above the glacier on the Southern Alps. Lath was pinching himself as he had been dreaming of a flight like this for so long and it was finally happening.
Sienna became a bit quieter as we got to the helicopter, despite her being really excited about going on one! We're not sure if it was the noise of it or how fast they were coming in and taking off (seriously, they can pick up some speed!) but by the time it was time to go on, she wasn't sure! The thing with kids is, the thought of something can be really exciting... they play with helicopter toys and make noises, they see helicopters in things like Paw Patrol and other kids cartoons, but the reality can be a completely different thing. It's really important to talk through steps with kids sometimes because as an adult we know the steps, we know the reality (even if we haven't been on a helicopter before) but a kid often can't quite grasp the concept. We really realised this when we were in the -18deg C storm room at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch and she was crying once the wind started to become really strong and noisy and it went super dark - oops!
It's amazing how quickly the 'turn over' is with the helicopters - once it lands, the passengers get off (grinning from ear to ear!), and while they're disembarking, the helicopter is being refueled and a few minutes later it's time for the next passengers to head on in!
Sienna getting weighed before going on the helicopter
Sienna wasn't too sure about being on the helicopter!
To Photograph Or Not To Photograph
The helicopter can take up to 6 passengers and there were us 4 and another guy. He got to sit up front on the way there which I was really gutted about buuuut I got to sit in the front on the way back yaaay (I didn't know we were able to change seats - more about that soon!).
None of us had ever been in a helicopter so it was a completely new experience for us. Once we got in the helicopter (and our hair was completely messed up from the blades), we each put on a headseat and buckled up. It was different to how I imagined it and we were surprised at how fast it took off but how slow it felt once we were actually high above the mountains.
The views were beyond amazing. The West Coast is something special and a place we keep returning to time and time again! The rainforests below seemed to stretch forever and then it was time to see the Southern Alps and the Fox Glacier. I was videoing here and there and everywhere. Do you ever find it difficult to find a balance between enjoying the moment, enjoying it and sharing it with others but also videoing AND photographing at the same time? I absolutely love taking as many videos and photos as I can to capture the moments forever and I can look at them any time, so sometimes it can be a struggle to know when to put the camera away and when to bring it out! I had my Samsung phone with me for videos and photos, plus I had my Canon DSLR for more crisp photos and my long lense to get some close ups of the glaciers. I never used my camera once! The flight was 20-minutes plus a 10-minute snow landing, so I just didn't have time to try and get all the settings right. You aren't allowed to take bags on the helicopter, so I had the phone and phone gimbal in one hand, my DSLR around my neck, one lense in my jacket pocket and the long lense in Lath's pocket. Phew!
It was a pretty smooth ride up to the alpine landing and the fun really began once we landed on the snow!
None of us had ever been in a helicopter so it was a completely new experience for us. Once we got in the helicopter (and our hair was completely messed up from the blades), we each put on a headseat and buckled up. It was different to how I imagined it and we were surprised at how fast it took off but how slow it felt once we were actually high above the mountains.
The views were beyond amazing. The West Coast is something special and a place we keep returning to time and time again! The rainforests below seemed to stretch forever and then it was time to see the Southern Alps and the Fox Glacier. I was videoing here and there and everywhere. Do you ever find it difficult to find a balance between enjoying the moment, enjoying it and sharing it with others but also videoing AND photographing at the same time? I absolutely love taking as many videos and photos as I can to capture the moments forever and I can look at them any time, so sometimes it can be a struggle to know when to put the camera away and when to bring it out! I had my Samsung phone with me for videos and photos, plus I had my Canon DSLR for more crisp photos and my long lense to get some close ups of the glaciers. I never used my camera once! The flight was 20-minutes plus a 10-minute snow landing, so I just didn't have time to try and get all the settings right. You aren't allowed to take bags on the helicopter, so I had the phone and phone gimbal in one hand, my DSLR around my neck, one lense in my jacket pocket and the long lense in Lath's pocket. Phew!
It was a pretty smooth ride up to the alpine landing and the fun really began once we landed on the snow!
Snowmen And Smiles (Oh, And Yellow Snow)
Before we landed, the pilot warned us not to let the kids go more than 50 metres from the helicopter as there may be crevasses but it was so loud that we weren't able to tell the kids till we got out of the helicopter and of course Sienna runs out in full force out into the snow and we yell STOOOOP and luckily she stops instantly!
Since we only had 10-minutes on the snow, it again felt difficult to know what to do! We wanted to take photos and film and have a snow fight and eat the snow and make snowmen and snow angels PHEW!
We had a lot of fun and everyone was all smiles. It had been a while since we had been to the snow - the last time was when Bella was 2 and we went skiing up Mt Ruapehu in the North Island. Sienna was really excited to make a snow angel, Lath was most excited about having a snowball fight and Bella and I were enjoying just eating the snow!
We got really hot up there as we had LAYERED up... I'm talking thermals, warm jumpers, puffer jackets and beanies! We had been told that the alpine landing would only be a few degrees colder than what it is in the Franz Josef town but we weren't convinced... we should have listened! But how can it not be freezing cold... in the snow... up on a mountain?!
The only thing we weren't huge fans on, was the amount of helicopters arriving and leaving while we were there and all the footprints in the snow all around us. It felt quite commercialised and not personal, but it's Franz Josef, on a smallish area of snow so it's to be expected I guess.
The 10-minutes on the snow actually felt like much longer but we were really sad to leave! On the way back to the helicopter we saw a patch of yellow snow... not sure if this was from the pilot or from a client on a previous helicopter landing. When ya gotta go, you gotta go I guess!
Since we only had 10-minutes on the snow, it again felt difficult to know what to do! We wanted to take photos and film and have a snow fight and eat the snow and make snowmen and snow angels PHEW!
We had a lot of fun and everyone was all smiles. It had been a while since we had been to the snow - the last time was when Bella was 2 and we went skiing up Mt Ruapehu in the North Island. Sienna was really excited to make a snow angel, Lath was most excited about having a snowball fight and Bella and I were enjoying just eating the snow!
We got really hot up there as we had LAYERED up... I'm talking thermals, warm jumpers, puffer jackets and beanies! We had been told that the alpine landing would only be a few degrees colder than what it is in the Franz Josef town but we weren't convinced... we should have listened! But how can it not be freezing cold... in the snow... up on a mountain?!
The only thing we weren't huge fans on, was the amount of helicopters arriving and leaving while we were there and all the footprints in the snow all around us. It felt quite commercialised and not personal, but it's Franz Josef, on a smallish area of snow so it's to be expected I guess.
The 10-minutes on the snow actually felt like much longer but we were really sad to leave! On the way back to the helicopter we saw a patch of yellow snow... not sure if this was from the pilot or from a client on a previous helicopter landing. When ya gotta go, you gotta go I guess!
We're All Gonna Diiiiiie!
When it was time to leave (boo hoo!) the pilot asked if anyone else wanted to sit in the front and I immediately said "ME! ME! ME!... sorry Lath... do you want to go?". Like the truely amazing man he is, he let me sit up front and Bella came with me. I was stoked as I thought the seating arrangement we got on the way up to the snow was going to stay the same.
Headphones on and buckles buckled, we were on our way to see the Franz Josef Glacier up close. The views from the front of the helicopter were absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend grabbing that seat before anyone else does (you may have to really push your morals aside to get it - just kidding) as the windows are huge and you have uninterrupted views.
We hit a wind pocket as we went over a ridge and we were swept pretty quickly to the side and were moving around. Everyone said "whoooooa" mean while I was thinking "#$%@ why did I #@#$#@^ get on this &*$%#@$ helicopter!", and the captain calmy told us that it was nothing to worry about, it was just like hitting a pothole in the road. Yes, that's exactly right guys, no need to overreact, just an air pothole!
Once we got over the ridge (and I'd sorted myself out), we were amazed by the views. The glacier looked like it had tiger stripes and the formations were incredible. It's hard to see any of the details from a distance like on the Franz Josef Glacier Track and the Sentinel Rock Track in Franz Josef, so flying above it well worth it to see what it's actually like.
We circled over a hut (I can't remember the name!) but it was a red hiking hut, high above in the mountains beside the glacier. That would be a magical place to hike up to and stay in!
The only thing I would change about the flight is going early in the morning or late in the evening because the glare on the windows made it hard to take clear photos!
Sadly our helicopter time had to end at some point, waaaah, and we said goodbye to the Southern Alps and the Franz Josef Glacier as we made our way over the Waiho River and back to our landing pad in Franz Josef.
Headphones on and buckles buckled, we were on our way to see the Franz Josef Glacier up close. The views from the front of the helicopter were absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend grabbing that seat before anyone else does (you may have to really push your morals aside to get it - just kidding) as the windows are huge and you have uninterrupted views.
We hit a wind pocket as we went over a ridge and we were swept pretty quickly to the side and were moving around. Everyone said "whoooooa" mean while I was thinking "#$%@ why did I #@#$#@^ get on this &*$%#@$ helicopter!", and the captain calmy told us that it was nothing to worry about, it was just like hitting a pothole in the road. Yes, that's exactly right guys, no need to overreact, just an air pothole!
Once we got over the ridge (and I'd sorted myself out), we were amazed by the views. The glacier looked like it had tiger stripes and the formations were incredible. It's hard to see any of the details from a distance like on the Franz Josef Glacier Track and the Sentinel Rock Track in Franz Josef, so flying above it well worth it to see what it's actually like.
We circled over a hut (I can't remember the name!) but it was a red hiking hut, high above in the mountains beside the glacier. That would be a magical place to hike up to and stay in!
The only thing I would change about the flight is going early in the morning or late in the evening because the glare on the windows made it hard to take clear photos!
Sadly our helicopter time had to end at some point, waaaah, and we said goodbye to the Southern Alps and the Franz Josef Glacier as we made our way over the Waiho River and back to our landing pad in Franz Josef.
Know Before You Go
- There are sooo many helicopter companies in Franz Josef (as well as Fox Glacier) to choose from so do your research (and read reviews online) and ask around for the best deal! We chose Heli Services as they had a kids half price deal that day
- We think the best time for the flight would be first thing in the morning or late in the evening so you don't get all the glare on the windows
- The temperature at the snow landing is only a few degrees warmer than the temperature in the Franz Josef village (unless there is wind and in winter that can be COLD)
- You can't take any bags on the helicopter with you
- The flights won't run if the weather is bad
- The flights can book up fast, especially on a clear day!
- Take UV sunglasses with you for the snow landing
- Talk to your little ones about what the helicopter ride might be like, including air pot holes
- Don't be late for check in... if you're not there, they're not going to wait for you or give you your $ back!
Mappy McMap Face
How To Get To Franz Josef
Franz Josef is a small town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It's just over 2 hours south of Greymouth, just under 4 hours north of Wanaka and 5 hours southwest of Christchurch.
Conclusion
A helicopter ride is the perfect way to see things from a new perspective and on a grander scale. If your budget allows it, we would highly recommend doing a helicopter flight in Franz Josef on a clear day. Not only is the helicopter flight fun (mostly - hello, air potholes), the views over the glaciers are so magical and you can't truly appreciate it till you're up there yourself. And once you step out onto the snow, it's all fun and games and everyone has such an amazing time! Just don't forget to take a few pics and videos then put your camera down to enjoy the moment.
You can also check out what else we recommend to do in Franz Josef here.
You can also check out what else we recommend to do in Franz Josef here.
Gallery of our helicopter experience!
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
More to do in New Zealand
CIRCLE TRACK
MARLBOROUGH An easy and beautiful walk through native New Zealand forest alongside the Pelorus River in the Marlborough region. |
INTERNATIONAL ANTARCTIC CENTRE
CANTERBURY Experience a MINUS 18-degree Celsius windstorm in the snow, play with huskies and see rescued little penguins under water!
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COWANS HILL TRACK
CANTERBURY A beautiful and peaceful walk up the back of Tekapo, full of lupins in Nov - Jan if you go down the right track. Great mountain views! |
SEND US A MESSAGE, WE LOVE GETTING MAIL! |
DISCOVER |
FOLLOW USBORING (BUT IMPORTANT LEGAL) STUFF |