Frequently Asked Questions
Glacier Base is located on 63 Cron street, Franz Josef / Waiau, 7856. Here, you can find some of our team to enquire or book on one of our trips.
All our experiences depart and return from Glacier Base, 63 Cron Street, Franz Josef Glacier, 7856.
There is plenty of free parking available for use. We have a carpark on either side of our building that is suitable for cars and campers.
Your booking confirmation will state your check in time. You are required to check in with our team in person at Glacier Base, 63 Cron Street Franz Josef Glacier, 7856. We ask that all manuhiri have completed their onlin check-in form before coming to our office if possible.
It is important that you arrive at Glacier Base at your scheduled check in time to ensure there is enough time to prepare you for your trip, this includes, completing the medical information, being notified about the weather conditions and get you kitted up with all the necessary equipment.
Unsure of your check-in time? Please do not hesitate to contact the team on 03 752 0763.
Most of our clients choose to borrow gear supplied by Franz Josef Glacier Guides. The benefits being that you will come back to your own fresh gear and do not run the risk of damage caused by the ice.
You are welcome to wear your own waterproof jacket, as well as quality ankle-supporting hiking boots upon assessment from one of our guides; or you can choose to wear the weatherproof boots that we provide. Feel free to call us or stop by our base if you would like advice.
Yes if you are on an Ice Climbing trip. As our Heli Hike trip is only up to 4 hours of duration, it is down to your discretion whether you need to bring a light snack to keep you refreshed. We do encourage you to bring a small bottle of water, and have food before your tour. Our Glacier Adventure lunch will be provided, however still recommend bringing a snack.
We ask that you do not bring a backpack on our glacier tours as there is limited space in the helicopter.
On all our trips we provide you with a small waist bag to carry your essentials (phone/camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, water and a snack). Please do not bring valuables, camera bags, selfie sticks, drones, portable chargers or spare batteries.
Given the changeable nature of the glacier, we cannot guarantee which features will be visible on any given trip. However, because we land high up on the ice, you're able to explore glacier terrain where blue ice very often features.
Our ice support team will be looking for the most interesting features as they prepare the hike route for the day. Your guide will also keep a keen eye out for the most spectacular hike route available for your trip.
The temperature on the ice is typically eight to ten degrees cooler than in Franz Josef township. With wind chill factored in, it can feel even colder. Alpine environments can be very changeable, we recommend being prepared for a range of conditions by wearing a warm base layer (ideally merino wool or polypropylene) and a warm mid layer (merino wool or fleece) which will then be covered by the waterproof jacket we supply. In the winter, please come prepared with at least 3 insulating layers. We ask guests not to wear jeans on the ice as these absorb water quickly, making you colder faster.
When wet, jeans become heavy, cold and uncomfortable. We recommend you wear lightweight trousers or shorts. We provide waterproof over-pants to wear on top of your shorts or trousers to keep you warm and comfortable during your trip.
The helicopter transfer from the valley to the landing pad on the glacier is around 5.5 minutes long each way. You'll get great views of the valley and the surrounding mountains on the way, but the primary function of the flight is to provide access to the glacier. If you're keen for a longer scenic flight with no hiking on the glacier involved, we offer our Glacier Encounter experience which is a mix of on-ice time with a scenic flight aspect. Our Glacier Adventure also allows for a longer flight time.
Due to the nature of the glacier we do have some restrictions on the participation of children. These restrictions are in place to ensure the on-going safety of all our guests and team members.
Our most inclusive tour for children is our Glacier Encounter, which can host kids as young as for years old.
As for our Heli Hike, there are minimum age, weight and height requirements for children. Children must be of hte age of 10, and meet the weight and height pre-requisite set out in our terms and conditions page . Due to glacier and weather conditions these guidelines may change. Participation in the hike is ultimately the decision of the lead guide on the day. All children under the age of 18 years old must be accompanied by a paying parent or guardian for the duration of the trip from check in until return to base after the hike.
The minimum age for the Heli Ice Climb experience is 16 years and a full paying parent or guardian must also accompany anyone under 18 years for the duration of this activity.
If you have any concerns or queries about a child's participation on one of our tours please get in touch with our team on 0800 484337 and our team will be happy to help.
It is the high annual rainfall in the glacier region (6-8m per year) that allows the glaciers to grow and without the rain, these magnificent glaciers would not be here. However, heavy rainfall, high wind and low cloud can also prevent helicopter operations as we adhere to strict safety standards in this area.
In the event of cancellation of any of our glacier tours due to weather, we offer the following options:
- Reschedule for the next available date/time
- Refund (dependent on the Terms and Conditions of your booking agent)
- Attempt to offer an alternative tour such as our Glacier Encounter
Our reception team and guides are happy to help suggest things to do in the Franz Josef Glacier area also, and book you in for other activities. Check out what Franz Josef has to offer.
Please read our full Terms and Conditions for further information. If you have booked through an agent, you will need to also read their terms of refund.
All of our glacier tours involve a helicopter aspect to the tour, which involves strict rules and Civil Aviation Laws around what cannot be brought with guests. On ice, we also have safety restrictions to what can be brought. These include:
- Power banks / battery packs and spare camera batteries
- Vapes, lighters and e-cigarettes
- Drones - these are illegal and incur large fines within 4 kms of a heliport and within restricted areas such as Franz Josef, in particular in our glacier valley
- Stick attachments such as go-pro sticks and selfie sticks
- Denim clothing, including jeans
- Backpacks - we will provide a small bag for you